Mourning Mothers ‘survivor’ has been arrested

Persian2English – Iranian government agents have arrested Mansoureh Behkish along with other individuals on June 12th. According to eyewitness accounts, female intelligence agents recognized Mansoureh Behkish at the intersection of Youssef Abad and Fatemi streets and arrested her. After taking her to the security police they transferred her to Evin prison, [introducing her] as a ‘special case’. There has been no news on her condition or status so far.

WHO IS MANSOUREH BEHKISH?

Mansoureh Behkish is among the survivors of the renowned Behkish family [and a member of the Mothers for Peace and the Mourning Mothers]. Those who have been active [who are socially or politically aware] remember a large framed picture located at *Khavaran cemetery that contains the photos of mother Behkish’s [Mansoureh's mother] five sons, one daughter, and son-in-law. The frame adorns Khavaran cemetery.

The only surviving members of the **big family are, a brother who lives abroad and Mansoureh who takes care of her aging mother [mother Behkish].

TRANSLATOR’S NOTES:

* Khavaran is the site of the mass graves of the political prisoners who were summarily executed in summer 1988.

** Mother Behkish lost five of her family members during the 1980′s:

1. Her eldest child (daughter) Zohreh was executed in August 1983.
2. Zohre’s husband Siamak Asadian (Eskandar) was killed in a clash in 1981.
3. Her other son Mahmoud had served half of his 10-year prison sentence when he was executed in the mass killings of political prisoners in summer 1988.
4. Her son Mohsen, 21, was arrested in 1983 and executed in May 1985.
5. Her youngest son was arrested when he was 19. He was sentenced to eight years in prison but was executed in summer 1988.

Above English translations by Siavosh Jalili, Persian2English.