Mourning Mothers

As already mentioned: the Mourning Mothers emerged in the political context of the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, which became one of the largest opposition movements in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The election, in which incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner over the reformist candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, was widely disputed because of claims of election irregularities. Because of the announcement of the results, mass protests, which became known as The Green movement, broke out across Iran. Although Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei initially upheld the official results and a partial recount was conducted, the government maintained Ahmadinejad’s victory which led to continued demonstrations. The protests were met with a large-scale security crackdown which involved the police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This resulted in arrests, violence against demonstrators, and reported fatalities. The unrest continued into late 2009 through major events such as the Ashura protests and was eventually reduced in the following years because of the intensified repression, including the house arrest of key opposition figures. ==Arrests and imprisonment==

On January 9, 2010, more than thirty Mourning Mothers were arrested by security agents at Laleh Park. According to eyewitnesses, the mothers were attacked by over 100 police and plainclothes agents, who violently forced the mothers into police vans. These arrests were widely condemned by human rights organizations. On December 27, 2011, group member Zhila Karamzadeh-Makvandi was arrested and sentenced to two years in Evin Prison for "founding an illegal organization" and "acting against state security". Amnesty International protested her imprisonment, designating her a prisoner of conscience "held solely for her peaceful activities as a member of the Mothers of Laleh Park". On April 4, 2012, group member Mansoureh Behkish was informed she was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for her activities with the group. Another member, Leyla Seyfollahi, and a male supporter, Nader Ahsani, were sentenced to two years' imprisonment apiece, but had not yet been summoned to begin their sentences. == Recent developments ==

In 2022, the Mothers of Laleh Park expressed their support for the nationwide protests in Iran because of the death of Jina Mahsa Amini while in police custody. The mothers made a public statement declaring their solidarity with the “Woman, Life, Freedom” (Kurdish version: Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement and strongly criticised the government’s repression of protesters, particularly in the Kurdish and Baluch regions. The statement repeated the group’s long-standing demands for: the release of political prisoners, freedom of expression and meeting, an end to executions and torture, and greater rights for women in Iran. ==See also==