By Kayhan Life Staff
Farideh Moradkhani, a human rights activist and the niece of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (his sister’s daughter), was arrested on Jan. 13, according to human rights organizations.
Ms. Moradkhani, the founder and director of Campaign to Support Prisoners, was arrested by several agents from the Ministry of Intelligence on her way home. She is reportedly held in Tehran’s Evin Prison cell block 209, which is controlled and managed by the Ministry of Intelligence.
Agents reportedly searched Moradkhani’s house after her arrest and seized some of her belongings. Moradkhani contacted her family a day after her arrest, saying she was in Evin Prison’s cell block 209.
A social media user, @_pappiilloon, tweeted: “Farideh Moradkhani, Ali Khamenei’s niece, was arrested by security agents and placed in solitary confinement. While back, Ms. Farideh Moradkhani had recited a poem praising Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi. Nowadays, Iran is ruled by mad criminals who do not tolerate the slightest opposition from friends or foe alike.”
Although authorities have released no information about the reason for Moradkhani’s arrest and charges filed against her, many people on social media believe she was arrested for taking part in a virtual gathering on Oct. 14 to celebrate Empress Farah Pahlavi’s 83rd birthday and recognize her invaluable contributions and services to the Iranian nation and culture.
“You will return and will bring light, kindness, and love with you,” Moradkhani said in a moving tribute to Empress Farah Pahlavi during the virtual birthday celebration. “Do you know the day you left your home, all the flowers wilted, the birds were caged, and joyful boys and girls became sad? Iranian arts and culture lost its protector the day you left.”
43 years ago the Shah of #Iran, with Empress Farah at his side, voluntarily left his country to avoid bloodshed.
Today, the Islamic Republic detained Farideh Moradkhani @khamenei_ir‘s own niece for reading this poem to @ShahbanouFarah calling for her return.
(English subtitles) pic.twitter.com/ORnjerTehO
— NUFDI (@NUFDIran) January 16, 2022
On the same day, Kayhan London tweeted Moradkhani’s heartfelt tribute to Farah Pahlavi, reporting: “Farideh Moradkhani, a human rights activist, the founder/director of Campaign to Support Prisoners, the daughter of Ali Tehrani, and the niece of the leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, paid tribute to Shahbanou at the gathering.”
