Why it matter:
Following the U.S.-Israeli-backed armed riots in Iran last month, foreign sources reported that Iranian security forces allegedly demanded money from victims' families for the return of their deceased relatives' bodies.
What he's saying:
Referring to allegations on social media about receiving payment in exchange for releasing bodies, he stated: "A rumor was spread that we were charging families; however, there is no such precedent in the Islamic Republic."
In response to questions regarding the removal of victims' names from the deceased search system, Tajik explained that the names would be gradually registered in the system and that all those buried in Behesht-Zahra have clear records.
The CEO of Behesht-Zahra provided precise statistics on received bodies, stating: "A total of 1,124 bodies from the recent incidents were received at Behesht-Zahra. Of these, 613 bodies were transferred to other provinces, and 511 bodies were buried in Behesht-Zahra."
Pointing to a 10% increase in body transfers to provinces compared to the annual average, he interpreted this statistic as an indication that a number of the victims were not residents of Tehran but had come to the capital from other cities.
Rejecting rumors of bodies being buried in mass graves, Tajik asserted: "There are no mass graves in the Islamic Republic, and no unidentified individuals have been buried."
He estimated the total value of services provided during this period at 65 billion Tomans, adding: "Ambulance transfer costs were covered free of charge, and the Mayor of Tehran personally emphasized the importance of fully honoring the families."
Concluding his remarks on the role of rumors in this matter, the CEO of Behesht-Zahra stated: "Rumors were the enemy's main tool. The terrorists shot more than 70% of the victims and delivered the final shots. What actually happened was different from what the enemy had designed."
Go deeper:
Foreign Journalists in Iran to Know About What Happened in Riots
Hossein Amiri - Hossein Amiri
