Protester Mojtaba Babakhani dies after detonating grenade following raid by Iranian forces

Hengaw – Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Mojtaba Babakhani, a Kurdish man from Mehran County in Ilam Province who had been wanted over his participation in the January 2026 protests, died during an armed raid by Iran’s NOPO Special Unit. He was arrested during the raid and subsequently detonated a hand grenade, killing himself and seriously injuring at least two Iranian police officers.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Iranian forces raided a hideout in the Eslamieh neighborhood of Mehran where Babakhani and his brother, Shoja Babakhani, had been staying on the morning of Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The brothers had been living in hiding after being pursued by security forces over their participation in the January protests.

An armed confrontation broke out during the raid. Hengaw sources said Shoja Babakhani managed to escape from the surrounded house, while Mojtaba Babakhani was arrested. Shoja Babakhani’s whereabouts and current condition remain unknown.

Mojtaba Babakhani detonated a hand grenade while in custody, killing himself at the scene and seriously injuring at least two police officers. The officers were reported to be in critical condition.

Mojtaba Babakhani and his brother had both participated in the widespread January 2026 protests before going into hiding as security forces pursued them.