Every Saturday since last June, Farzaneh Zeinali met with a group of mothers at Laleh Park in Tehran.
The women dress entirely in black and silently make their way along pathways by candlelight. In their hands, they carry photos of their children – all political dissidents either killed or imprisoned in the aftermath of last year’s disputed presidential election.

This group is known as the Mourning Mothers of Iran. But Zeinali doesn’t march with them anymore.

In January, she was one of 32 arrested by the Revolutionary Guard. While most of the others have since been released, it is believed Zeinali remains in the notorious Evin Prison – a place synonymous with years of torture and abuse.

…By now shifting our focus to the current human rights abuses taking place in the streets of Tehran, we may just ease our proliferation concerns. In securing a more peaceful future for the people of Iran, we might just secure a more peaceful future for the world. Go to original article.

All members of the Mourning Mothers who were detained in Laleh Park in Tehran on Saturday, 9 January, have been gradually released, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today.

The Campaign strongly condemns the harassment and detention of the Mourning Mothers and to address their legitimate grievances. Mourning Mothers is a group of mothers and relatives of those killed by government forces during recent events and was formed following the death of Neda Agha-Soltan. The group has grown to include the mothers and relatives of political prisoners who were executed in the past.

The group meets every Saturday in Laleh Park in Tehran to grieve the loss of their loved ones. However, security forces have routinely attacked and dispersed their gathering. On Saturday, 9 January, thirty-two members of the group were detained and taken to Vozara Detention Center. Go to ICHR Iran.

The mourning mothers of those who have been ruthlessly murdered or imprisoned during post-election protests gather at Laleh Park in Tehran every Saturday.