Following protests in Iran and Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan) against the economic crisis and the rial’s sharp depreciation against foreign currencies, at least 582 people have been detained and 17 protesters killed in the last eight days. It is reported that injured protesters are unable to go to hospitals for fear of being detained.
Protests began on December 28, 2025, with actions initiated by merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar against economic problems. The demonstrations, which quickly spread across the country, continued on their eighth day in many cities with anti-regime slogans.
Deaths were reported during protests in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Hamedan, Fars, Ilam, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and the cities of Malekshahi, Hamedan, Harsin, Nurabad (Delfan), Kuhdasht, Azna, Lordegan, Fooladshahr, and Marvdasht, which are part of the Isfahan province.
According to information from various sources, it was recorded that the 17 people killed during the protests were Lor Kurds, one from the Yarsan religious minority, and one of Persian origin in Hamedan.
DECEMBER 31
• Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarvand, a 28-year-old of Lor ethnicity from Fooladshahr in Isfahan province, was shot dead with live ammunition during protests. Sources reported that he was shot with an AK-47 and died before he could be transported to a medical facility.
• Amirhesam Khodayarifard, a 22-year-old member of the Yarsan religious minority from Kuhdasht in Lorestan province, was shot in the head with live ammunition at close range and killed. Following his death, state institutions allegedly attempted to portray him as a member of the Basij.
JANUARY 1
• Mansour Mokhtari, a Lor from the city of Marvdasht in Fars province, was shot dead while protesting the killing of Khodadad Shirvani in front of the 11th police station.
• A 28-year-old trainee lawyer from the town of Azna in Lorestan province, Ahmadreza Amanip, was shot in the chest, and died from blood loss after being taken to hospital.
• Ahad Ebrahimpour Abdoli (35), from the village of Hasan Gaviyar Mirbeg in the Delfan (Nurabad) region of Lorestan province, was shot three times and killed in Beheshte Square. Witnesses said he was targeted while trying to help a woman who had been arrested.
• Khodadad Shirvani, a 33-year-old father of Lor ethnicity from the town of Marvdasht in Fars province, was shot at close range with a shotgun and died in hospital.
• Mostafa Fallahi, a 15-year-old boy of Lor ethnicity from the town of Azna in Lorestan province, was killed when live ammunition was fired directly at protesters.
• Shayan Asadollahi, a 30-year-old of Lor ethnicity from the city of Azna in Lorestan province, was killed during the same protests.
• Vahab Mousavi, a Lor from the city of Azna in Lorestan province, was shot dead on Thursday evening.
• Ahmad Jalil, a 21-year-old of Lor ethnicity from Lordegan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, was killed by direct gunfire.
• Sajjad Valamanesh, a 20-year-old Bakhtiari Lor from Lordegan, was killed during the protests. Although he was not a member of the Basij or any other state institution, it was alleged that pressure was exerted on his family. His funeral was held on Friday, January 2, 2026.
JANUARY 2
• Amirhossein Bayati, a married man living in Hamedan, was shot with live ammunition during protests. According to reports, his body was taken to Hamedan Besat Hospital. The authorities refused to hand the body to his family, and forced them to identify Bayati as a member of the Basij.
• Ali Azizi Jafarabadi, a 42-year-old Kurdish man from the village of Jafarabad-e Hezarkhani, married with one child, was killed in the town of Harsin in Kermanshah province.
JANUARY 3
• Kurdish citizen Mehdi Emamipour from the town of Malekshahi in Ilam province was shot during protests; he died after being taken to Imam Khomeini Hospital.
• Kurdish citizen Farez Aghamohammadi from the same town was killed by direct fire from IRGC forces.
• Reza Azimzadeh, a resident of Malekshahi, was shot dead during the protests.
• Mohammad Moghaddasi, a Kurdish man from the town of Malekshahi in Ilam province, was killed during the protests.
Expressing concern over the increase in detentions and loss of life, human rights organizations call on Iranian authorities to cease the disproportionate use of force, share transparent information about the situation of those detained, and ensure unimpeded access to healthcare for the injured.