Hengaw verifies identities of eight more people killed during Isfahan protests
Hengaw – Wednesday, January 21, 2026
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights has verified the identities of eight additional individuals who were killed by direct gunfire from Iranian government forces during protests in Isfahan Province.
Those killed have been identified as Mohammadreza Ghorbani, from Shahin Shahr; Mehrdad Rihani and Mohammad-Hossein Mousavi, both from Shahreza; and five residents of Isfahan: Ali Pouladastoun, Hamid Faqih, Morteza Shahzidi, Hadi Havayi, and Hamid Ganji.
According to information received by Hengaw, Hadi Havayi, 40 and the father of two children; Morteza Shahzidi, 46; and Hamid Ganji were killed after government forces opened fire during protests in Isfahan on Friday night, January 9, 2026.
On the same day, Hamid Faqih, the owner of the Amadegan bookstore, was also shot dead by government forces.
Earlier, on Thursday night, January 8, 2026, Mohammadreza Ghorbani, an 18-year-old from Shahin Shahr; Mehrdad Rihani, the father of a six-month-old daughter; and Mohammad-Hossein Mousavi, from Shahreza, were killed by direct gunfire from government forces.
According to Hengaw’s sources, Mohammadreza Ghorbani was shot from behind with a military-grade weapon in front of a Basij base. Eyewitnesses also told Hengaw that Mohammad-Hossein Mousavi was shot dead at around 9:00 p.m. in front of his shop by Shokrollah Pourkhaghan, using a handgun.
Sources further stated that Mehrdad Rihani was killed by a direct gunshot to the head from a distance of less than half a meter while attempting to rescue and transport an injured girl. His body was identified by his family eight days later among numerous victims at Bagh‑e Rezvan Cemetery. He was buried under pressure, after authorities extracted written commitments from the family and prohibited any public announcement or mourning ceremony.
Ali Pouladastoun was also killed by direct gunfire from government forces on Thursday night, January 8, in the Bagh-e Rezvan area of Isfahan.
