Sculptor Mehdi Salahshour shot dead during protests in Mashhad

Hengaw – Monday, January 12, 2026

Mehdi Salahshour, a sculptor and resident of Mashhad, was killed by direct gunfire from Iranian government forces during ongoing public protests in the city.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Salahshour, a married father of two, was shot dead on the evening of Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Informed sources told Hengaw that Salahshour was killed by direct fire from a military-grade weapon, identified as a Kalashnikov rifle.

Mehdi Salahshour was a prominent sculptor, a sculpture instructor, the founder of a specialized stone sculpture workshop, and a recipient of international artistic awards.