Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has told the family of RFE/RL journalist Reza Haghighatnejad that his body was secretly buried at a location outside Shiraz.
On October 30, Radio Farda posted on Twitter a photograph of the purported burial site that the IGRC had sent to Haghighatnejad's father.
Haghighatnejad, 45, died of cancer in Berlin on October 17. His body was repatriated to Iran for burial on October 25.
The body, however, was not turned over to his parents after it arrived in Iran, and there were unconfirmed reports it had been seized by the IRGC and taken to an unknown location.
On October 27, the journalist's mother, Beygumjan Raeisi, published a video in which she said her son's body had "been abducted by the authorities at the airport."
SEE ALSO: Family Of RFE/RL Journalist Says His Body Is Still Missing In IranHaghighatnejad's family was not allowed to see the body or participate in the burial.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price on October 28 called on Iranian authorities to release Haghighatnejad's body "immediately" to his family and said the episode showed the extent of intimidation of the press.
"The treatment of Reza Haghighatnejad underscores just how much Iran's leadership fears journalists even after their death," he said.
RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly called the Iranian regime’s treatment of Haghighatnejad's family deplorable.
“The Iranian regime’s callous cruelty towards Reza and his family is utterly reprehensible,” Fly said. “They deserved better, and I hope they find peace.”
Haghighatnejad left Iran amid increased pressure on journalists and started working with Persian-language media outside the country. He began reporting for Radio Farda in 2019.
He was not able to return to Iran because of his journalistic activities.
The incident comes as Iran cracks down on protests triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.