Iranian security forces allegedly shot and killed amateur boxer Sepehr Ebrahimi during protests near Tehran, prompting his father to search morgues for a week before identifying his body.
Iranian security forces reportedly killed amateur boxer Sepehr Ebrahimi during ongoing anti-regime protests near Tehran, contributing to a rising death toll that has surpassed 6,126 individuals since the protests began.
The tragic incident occurred on January 11 in the Andisheh area, located approximately 19 miles west of Tehran’s city center. Ebrahimi, just 19 years old, was shot during demonstrations against the Iranian government. His father spent a harrowing week searching through morgues and hospitals before finally identifying his son’s body among the deceased.
Distressing footage circulating online captures the moment when Ebrahimi’s father, visibly distraught, searches among piles of bodies covered with black body bags. In the video, he can be heard calling out for his son, crying, “My dear Sepehr, where are you?” At one point, he exclaims, “Damn Khamenei. They have killed the children of so many people. You killed so many young people!”
According to Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Ebrahimi was shot with live ammunition by security forces during the protests. His family’s anguish reflects the broader turmoil in Iran, where citizens have been demonstrating against political repression, economic hardship, and human rights abuses.
The death of Ebrahimi has drawn renewed attention to the plight of another Iranian boxer, Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, who is currently on death row. Vafaei Sani, now 30, was arrested in 2020 for participating in pro-democracy protests. Iranian authorities accused him of supporting the opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).
During his five years in prison, Vafaei Sani has reportedly endured torture and prolonged solitary confinement, according to various human rights organizations. In 2023, over 100 human rights experts and international organizations sent a letter to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, urging immediate intervention to prevent his execution. His case echoes that of Iranian wrestling champion Navid Afkari, who was executed in September 2020.
The killing of Ebrahimi adds to the growing list of fatalities related to the protests. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that at least 6,126 people have been killed since the latest wave of demonstrations began. The agency also noted that 214 government-affiliated forces and 49 civilians have lost their lives, while more than 17,000 deaths remain under investigation.
As protests continue to unfold across Iran, the situation remains tense, with citizens demanding accountability and justice for the violence they have faced. The tragic death of Sepehr Ebrahimi serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing unrest, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and intervention in the region.
According to Fox News Digital, the ongoing protests reflect deep-seated frustrations among the Iranian populace, who are increasingly vocal about their demands for change.