Protests in Iran Lead to Fatalities
In a tragic incident during ongoing protests in Iran, a 23-year-old student was shot in the head at close range. This information comes from the Norway-based group, Iranian Human Rights, as the Iranian government intensifies its harsh response to demonstrations across the country.
Rubina Aminian, a textile and fashion design student from Tehran’s Shariati Women’s College, was reportedly killed on January 8 after opting to leave her studies to participate in protests in the capital. She is one of the few individuals identified among the wave of violence.
According to the group, witnesses reported that Aminian, a young Kurdish woman from Marivan, was shot from behind, with the bullet striking her in the head.
While protests erupt in response to the government regime, statements from exiled dissidents hint at a shift toward a “revolution,” reflecting the deep dissatisfaction within the populace.
Following Aminian’s death, her family traveled from Kermanshah to Tehran to identify her remains. Reports indicate that families were taken to a site near the university where they encountered the bodies of numerous young individuals who allegedly lost their lives in the protests. One source revealed that many victims were young men, predominantly aged 18 to 22, who were shot in the head and neck at point-blank range by government forces.
As protests escalate in danger, the regime’s attempts to enforce an internet blackout have not managed to quell the unrest, even though some international calls remain possible for Iranians.
The situation surrounding Aminian’s burial was equally dire. Initially, her family faced restrictions in identifying and claiming her body. Eventually, after persistent efforts, they retrieved her remains but were surrounded by intelligence forces upon returning to Kermanshah, which prevented them from holding a proper burial.
Reportedly, Aminian’s family was forced to inter her body along a roadside between Kermanshah and Kamyaran. They weren’t allowed to conduct memorial services, and various mosques in Marivan were also prohibited from honoring her memory.
Broader discontent within Iran has stemmed from political repression and economic hardships, such as rising inflation. The US-based Human Rights Defenders News Agency notes that over 16,700 people have been detained amid the turmoil.
Other human rights organizations have suggested that the death toll may be significantly higher, with some estimates surpassing 3,000 deaths. Aminian has been described by rights groups as “a young woman full of joy in life and passionate about fashion and clothing design, whose dreams were crushed by the Islamic Republic’s violent repression.”
