Identities of seven Gilaks killed by direct gunfire from Iranian forces verified
Hengaw – Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Seven Gilak men—Saeed Ebrahimi, Aydin Dolatkhah, Sorna Golgoon, Mehdi Delkhosh, Amir Shokouri, Ali Seddiqi, and Taban Rahrovan—were killed by direct live fire from Iranian government forces during public protests in the cities of Bandar Anzali, Rasht, Lahijan, and Pasikhan in Gilan Province, as well as Tonekabon (Shahsavar) in Mazandaran Province.
With these cases, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights has so far verified and published the identities of at least 12 Gilak individuals killed during the recent protests.
According to information received by Hengaw, Sorna Golgoon, an 18-year-old university student from Tonekabon (Shahsavar) and the only child of his family, was killed by government gunfire during protests in the city on the evening of Friday, January 9, 2026.
Informed sources told Hengaw that he was shot from behind with live ammunition, sustaining fatal injuries including rupture of the heart and lungs. His body was handed over to his family and buried the following day amid a large public turnout.
On the same day, Mehdi Delkhosh, 23, from Pasikhan, and Saeed Ebrahimi from Bandar Anzali were killed by direct fire from government forces during public protests in their respective cities.
Separately, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, three residents of Lahijan—Ali Seddiqi (30), Amir Shokouri, and Taban Rahrovan—were killed by direct live fire during protests in that city.
Aydin Dolatkhah, a 22-year-old from Rasht, was also killed at approximately 8:00 p.m. the same evening in Sargol Square, after being shot directly by government forces. Sources reported that he was targeted from behind by Basij forces.
Public protests on January 8–9, 2026, which took place simultaneously in multiple cities across Iran, were marked by widespread participation in much of Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. These demonstrations were met with severe repression, including the direct use of live ammunition against protesters by Iranian forces.
According to Hengaw’s statistics, with these latest cases, the number of Gilaks killed during the protests has risen to at least 13. Hengaw had previously reported the killing of six other Gilak individuals during the same period.
