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Iranwire – Pouya Molaei-Rad, a cousin of Kian Pirfalak’s mother, Mahmonir Molaei, was shot and killed by agents of the Islamic Republic near the cemetery where Kian is laid to rest. The shooting occurred amid threats made against Mahmonir, warning her that if she proceeded with celebrating her son’s 10th birthday, her husband and their younger son would also be targeted.
Kian Pirfalak was nine years old when security forces shot and killed him in the back of his family’s car, on November 16, 2022.
Numerous reports on social media and various media outlets have confirmed the death of Pouya Molaei-Rad, 19, who was visiting Kian’s grave at the cemetery in the village of Parchestan, located in the county of Izeh, Khuzestan province.
According to accounts received by IranWire, government agents physically assaulted Pouya at the site. Attempting to then intimidate the agents, Pouya entered his car and drove towards them, but when he stopped and exited the vehicle, he was met with a hail of gunfire, leading to his death.
🎥#پویا_مولایی_راد، به دست نیروهای حکومتی کشته شد
ویدیوی منتشر شده از ایذه پیکر پویا مولایی راد، پسر عموی مادر #کیان_پیرفلک را نشان میدهد که امروز یکشنبه به دست ماموران حکومتی در سالروز تولد کیان کشته شد.#شهروندخبرنگار pic.twitter.com/aUSrm4CP8q— ایران وایر (@iranwire) June 11, 2023
The incident took place during preparations for Kian’s 10th birthday ceremony. Kian would have celebrated his birthday on June 11.
Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s news agency, confirmed the deaths of a policeman and a civilian during the ceremonies marking Kian’s birthday, but has not disclosed any identities. Additionally, there have been reports of arrests within Kian’s family in Izeh, with security agents surrounding the village of Parchestan and deploying forces in the city.
Meanwhile, the government’s panic over Kian Pirfalak’s 10th birthday ceremonies has led to increased harassment of his family, relatives and others in the city of Izeh in Khuzestan province. According to an informed source, a person who had made a special cake for Kian’s 10th birthday was arrested on June 10 in Izeh.
“Since Wednesday, June 7, agents of the Intelligence Ministry had put Kian’s family under enormous pressure,” a friend of the family told IranWire.
“They [the authorities] were and still are very angry about the documentary The Tulips, made by Farzan Deljou which was published by IranWire. Before this documentary was published, they put a lot of pressure on Mahmonir and members of her family and insisted that this video must not be published.
“They thought that because it was called a documentary, Kian’s family must have provided videos and evidence for making it. They were threatened repeatedly that this film must not be published. Mahmonir and members of the family continually answered that they had no say in whether it would be published or not. But the Intelligence Ministry took the issue very seriously and I don’t know what exactly they were thinking about this film,” the friend said.
“Agents of the Intelligence Ministry and security agents did their best to prevent the birthday ceremony for Kian. Even on Friday, two days before the birthday of this child who was killed during the protests, they threatened Mahmonir and told her that ‘If you do not stop these ceremonies from taking place, we will kill your little son Radin and your husband Meysam,’” the family friend added.
According to this source, agents of the Intelligence Ministry were also trying to stop plans by Iranians abroad to celebrate Kian’s birthday.
