Identities of twelve Kurds, including two children, killed by Iranian forces in Kermanshah protests confirmed
Hengaw – Friday, January 23, 2026
The identities of twelve Kurdish civilians, including two children, who were killed by Iranian government forces during recent protests in Kermanshah have been confirmed by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.
The victims have been identified as Nazanin Zahra Salehi (13), Mohammad Matin Bagheri (16), Farhad Nazari Gorajouei, Hassan Nouri, Hamidreza Yousefi, Pedram Argha, Farhad Cheraghi, Sayad Faramarzi, Behrouz Narimanimehr, Amirali Abbasifar, Gholamhossein Ahadi, and Alireza Eftekhari.
According to Hengaw’s findings, at least four of the victims were followers of the Yarsan faith, a Kurdish religious minority. With these newly confirmed cases, the death toll from the recent protests in Kermanshah has risen to at least 45, all killed by direct or deliberate use of lethal force by government security forces.
Killings on January 9, 2026
Nazanin Zahra Salehi, a 13-year-old girl, was shot dead at close range by Iranian government forces while inside a public park on Keyhanshahr Boulevard. Sources reported that she had been living under the care of her aunt after losing both parents several years ago. Her funeral was held on January 11 at Bagh-e Ferdows Cemetery, attended by a large number of mourners.
Pedram Argha, a 27-year-old dentist and follower of the Yarsan faith, was shot and killed by government forces outside his private dental clinic after sustaining two gunshot wounds. He was buried on January 12 at Sarab-e Tiran Cemetery in the Kozaran district. According to informed sources, his family was pressured by security authorities to falsely describe him as a member of the Basij militia.
Killings on January 8, 2026
Mohammad Matin Bagheri, a 16-year-old boy, was shot dead by Iranian government forces during protests in the Maskan Bazaar area. Witnesses said government forces transferred his severely wounded body to a detention vehicle and later abandoned it along a highway. He was laid to rest on January 11 at Bagh-e Ferdows Cemetery.
Farhad Nazari Gorajouei, a resident of Gorajoub village in Dalahu County and a follower of the Yarsan faith, was killed by direct gunfire from government forces in the Moallem neighborhood.
Behrouz Narimanimehr, 33, a married father of two, and Sayad Faramarzi, 36, a married father of one—both residents of the Dareh Deraz neighborhood and followers of the Yarsan faith—were shot and killed by Iranian government forces during protests.
Alireza Eftekhari, Hassan Nouri, and Amirali Abbasifar, all residents of Kermanshah, were killed by direct gunfire from government forces. According to informed sources, Hassan Nouri was initially shot in the leg by government forces in the Shariati neighborhood and later executed with a fatal gunshot to the head.
Gholamhossein Ahadi, a retired teacher, was shot dead by Iranian government forces in the city’s central square.
Hamidreza Yousefi was killed by direct gunfire from government forces in the Elahiyeh neighborhood.
Farhad Cheraghi was shot four times in the abdomen by government forces during protests on Taq-e Bostan Boulevard and later died from his injuries.
According to verified documentation compiled by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at least 45 protesters have now been confirmed killed in Kermanshah by Iranian government forces.
