At least 2,000 people have been killed during two weeks of widespread protests across Iran, according to human rights monitors. The demonstrations, which began as an outcry over the country's crippled economy, have escalated into the most significant challenge to the ruling theocracy in decades.
Verifying the Victims Amid an Information Blackout
In response to the unrest, Iranian authorities imposed a severe internet blackout, making independent verification of casualty figures extremely difficult. Despite this, the Sky News Data & Forensics team has painstakingly collected and verified the identities of at least 75 individuals killed, using a combination of local media, social media, and open-source intelligence.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that 1,847 of those killed were protesters, with 135 affiliated with the government. These figures have been broadly corroborated by an Iranian official speaking to Reuters. In addition to the deaths, more than 10,700 people have been detained since the protests began.
The Human Faces of the Tragedy
Behind the stark statistics are personal stories of lives cut short. The victims come from all walks of life, with the average age of those verified being just 27.
Akram Pirgazi, a 40-year-old mother of two, is believed to be the first woman killed. She was shot in Neyshabur on 7 January and later died in hospital.
In Mashhad, Mehdi Salahshour, a respected 50-year-old sculptor and father of two, was shot by government forces on 8 January. An honorary member of the Visual Arts Development Institute, he had participated in nearly 20 exhibitions and held workshops at the University of Tehran.
Javad Ganji, a 39-year-old filmmaker and assistant director, was shot dead during protests in Tehran on 9 January.
In the city of Azna, two young men lost their lives on 1 January. Shayan Asadollahi, a 28-year-old hairdresser with over 50,000 Instagram followers, was reportedly killed by government forces. On the same day, Ahmadreza Amani, a 28-year-old trainee lawyer, died after being shot in the chest during street protests.
A Nation's Youth and Future Lost
The protests have seen a huge turnout from Iran's youth, a demographic reflected in the list of the dead. Rebin Moradi, a 17-year-old Kurdish student, was a promising footballer who played in the Tehran Youth Premier Football League for Saipa Club. He was also a keen swimmer and wrestler. He was reportedly killed in Tehran on 8 January.
Following his death, a poignant post on his Instagram account asked: "Who had the heart to kill you?"
As the protests continue unabated across the country, the death toll is expected to rise further. The Sky News Data & Forensics team continues its work to verify the details of those who have lost their lives while standing against the Iranian regime.
