Mohammadreza Karami dies from injuries sustained during Malekshahi protests

Hengaw – Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Mohammadreza Karami, a Kurdish resident of Malekshahi in Ilam province who had been wounded four days earlier by direct gunfire from Iranian forces, has died from his injuries.

Based on the information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Karami died on Monday evening, January 5, 2026, at Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, where he had been receiving treatment after being shot during public protests in Malekshahi. Reports indicate that he was 16 years old; however, this detail has not yet been independently verified by Hengaw.

According to informed sources, Karami was shot on Saturday, January 3, 2026, during protests in Malekshahi. He sustained three gunshot wounds to his side and was admitted to intensive care in critical condition.

During the protests that day, Iranian government forces used violence and live fire against demonstrators in Malekshahi, resulting in multiple civilian deaths and dozens of injuries.

After the wounded were transferred to Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, government forces raided the medical facility in an attempt to remove some of the injured protesters. Family members and several medical staff resisted the intrusion. Security forces then used force to enter the hospital grounds and fired tear gas inside the hospital compound.