Eight Kurds killed during protests in Tehran and Karaj identified

Hengaw — Friday, January 23, 2026

The identities of eight Kurdish individuals from Kermanshah (Kermashan), killed during protests in Tehran and Karaj after being shot with live ammunition by Iranian government forces, have been verified by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

All eight were killed over two days, on January 8 and 9, 2026. The victims include one adherent of the Yarsan faith. Their identities were confirmed following independent verification by Hengaw. Details are as follows.

Killed on Friday, January 9, 2026

Pouria Bahari Mostaeli, from the village of Mostaeli in Kermanshah Province, was killed during protests in the Tehranpars area of Tehran after being shot by Iranian government forces. Hengaw has learned that his body was buried on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in the cemetery of his hometown.

Majid Jalilian, a 39-year-old athlete from Islamabad-e Gharb and a resident of Tehran, was severely beaten by Iranian government forces during protests in the Marzdaran area of Tehran before being shot dead. He was the father of a young child.

Killed on Thursday, January 8, 2026

Diako Ghadermarzi, 19, from the village of Sadeqabad in Dehgolan (Dewlan), was killed during protests in Karaj after being shot by Iranian government forces. Hengaw had previously published footage from his funeral, during which mourners chanted “Ey Shahidan” (“O Martyrs”) and the slogan, “Kak Diako is a hero, a martyr of Kurdistan.”

Mahan Mardani, from Kermanshah and an adherent of the Yarsan faith, was killed during protests in Qal‘eh Hasan Khan, Tehran, after being shot by Iranian government forces.

Meysam Ghanbari-Rad, from Kermanshah and a resident of Tehran, was killed during protests in the Parand area of Tehran after being shot by Iranian government forces. Hengaw has learned that his body was buried on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Abedin Khazaei, 51, from Kangavar in Kermanshah Province, who held a master’s degree in biology, was killed during protests in Fardis, Karaj, after being shot by Iranian government forces.

Loghman Alizadeh, a Kurdish man from the village of Guy Aghaj in Takab County, was killed during protests in Fardis, Karaj, after being shot by Iranian government forces. His son, Parsa Alizadeh, who was with him at the time, was wounded. Hengaw has learned that Alizadeh’s body was handed over to his family only after they were forced to pay 400 million tomans. He was buried on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in his hometown.

Abbas Kalhor, from Kermanshah, was also killed during protests in the Fardis area of Karaj after being shot by Iranian government forces.