Iran’s violent crackdown on the protests that have engulfed all parts of the country for the past seven weeks have sent shivers down the spines of the country’s population, as recent reported killings suggest that it is not only protesters that stand the risk of losing their lives on the hands of the security forces.
At least 304 people have been killed across Iran since protests began in mid-September, including 40 children, with at least 40 of the deaths been recorded in the country’s western Kurdish areas (Rojhelat). Iranian authorities accuse whom they refer to as “rioters” of inciting chaos in the country, yet the killing of regular bystanders by Iranian security forces demonstrates that protesters are not the only ones being targeted by the regime.
“Hello, sir. I am sorry but I will not be coming back to school as long the situation continues like this. I am afraid of going out the house. They kill people without hesitation. They even kill those that have done nothing,” a 16-year-old female student in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj wrote in a text message to her teacher, who preferred his name to be omitted due to security concerns, last week.
At least 16 Kurds were killed in the mass protests of Rojhelat last week, marking the 40th day of mourning for Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, whose death in detention in Tehran in mid-September sparked a nationwide protest movement.
Crowds flocked to the streets of Baneh on the afternoon of October 27 in protest. As security forces began opening fire on the demonstrators, frightened bystanders rushed home to avoid the live ammunition, among them was 40-year-old father of two Mutalib Saeed Piro.
Security footage shows Piro getting out of his car to greet members of the Iranian security forces near his house, before getting back into his car. Nonetheless, the armed men can be seen attacking Piro’s car and breaking the window, before one of them fires at him in close range.
Wounded, Piro tries to drive home but loses consciousness in his car from excessive bleeding before reaching his house. After spending less than an hour in the hospital, Piro, who worked as a car dealer, succumbed to the severity of the wounds caused by the bullet that hit the right side of his back.
On the same night, 28-year-old Faraidun Faraji was waiting for customers outside the pizza place he worked at in the city of Baneh before he was shot by the Iranian forces. He was taken to a hospital in the city and underwent surgery but passed away soon after.
His body was taken back to his home city of Saqqez that same night, and he was buried in Aichi graveyard, where Amini’s body also lays to rest.
Mother of two Fereshteh Ahmadi, 32, was visiting the house of a relative in the city of Mahabad with her children on October 27. She died when the forces opened fire at her while she was on the rooftop of the house.
“They are Kurd killers and murderers,” Ahmadi’s husband is heard crying on her grave in a video clip, emphasizing that his wife was never a part of the protests on the streets.
Media outlets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that she was killed by “rioters”. Ibrahim Ahmadi, the victim’s brother, denied the claims, adding that he had been contacted by the authorities to file complaints but rejected reports that such complaints were made.
Jalal Mahmoudzadeh, a Mahabad MP of the Iranian parliament, told Rudaw that Ahmadi was not a part of the demonstrations and was “innocent”.
For around eight weeks since the killing of Amini on September 16, Iranians across the country have protested against oppression and have called for the overthrow of the regime.
The authorities in Tehran have ordered an unprecedented crackdown, killing hundreds and wounding thousands as many more languish in detention.
Naser Piroti is a journalist at Rudaw Kurdish.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.
