Reza Haghighatnejad. Photo: Radio Farda
Reza Haghighatnejad. Photo: Radio Farda
Reza Haghighatnejad. Photo: Radio Farda
Reza Haghighatnejad. Photo: Radio Farda

Iran's IRGC accused of 'kidnapping' body of exiled journalist before burial


Holly Johnston
  • English
  • Arabic

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “kidnapped” the body of an exiled Iranian journalist when it was returned to Iran for burial, his former employer has said.

Reza Haghighatnejad, who worked for Radio Farda, a US-funded Farsi outlet based in Prague, died following a long battle with cancer on Tuesday.

IRGC forces took his body to an unknown location after his coffin arrived at Shiraz airport, Radio Farda said on Wednesday.

His family had reportedly resisted pressure to bury him in a cemetery outside of Shiraz.

Haghighatnejad was forced to leave Iran after increased pressure on journalists following the 2008 elections.

He focused on corruption in Iran during his three years at Radio Farda, it said, producing reports on the petrochemical industry and the IRGC itself.

His last tweet, on October 3, was a video of schoolgirls protesting in Karaj.

Dissident journalists in Iran are regularly targeted by authorities.

At least 40 journalists have been arrested since the latest protests began in mid-September, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which also said at least four were unaccounted for after a deadly fire at Evin prison on October 15.

Iran is the world's third biggest jailer of journalists.

In 2020, it executed journalist Ruhollah Zam, who had sought safety in France after the 2009 Green Movement protests. Reporter Without Borders said he was kidnapped and forcibly returned to Iran before being accused of espionage and “corruption on earth.”

At least 141 people have been killed since protests began over the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16.

The families of several protesters have claimed the IRGC has refused to release the bodies of protesters unless relatives deny they were killed by security forces.

IRGC forces also intervened in the funerals of the victims of Flight PS752, which was downed by the IRGC after take-off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport in January 2020, killing all 176 on board.

Families of the victims reported a heavy IRGC presence at burials and relatives were forced to bury their dead in “pre-selected graves.”

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

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Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

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While you're here
Match info

Wolves 0

Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')

Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)

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1921

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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:

Liverpool 3

Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'

Manchester United 1

Lingard 33'

Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)

Fixtures

Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11

August 9

Liverpool v Norwich 11pm

August 10

West Ham v Man City 3.30pm

Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm

Burnley v Southampton 6pm

C Palace v Everton 6pm

Leicester v Wolves 6pm

Watford v Brighton 6pm

Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm

August 11

Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm

Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm

 

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

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While you're here
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Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
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Investment raised: $4 million 
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Sunday's Super Four matches

Dubai, 3.30pm
India v Pakistan

Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangladesh v Afghanistan

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Updated: June 19, 2023, 1:05 PM