Identifying the Faces Behind the Tragedy: Victims of Iran's Protest Crackdown

Mon Feb 09 2026 22:54:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A comprehensive investigation by BBC News Persian reveals the identities of over 200 people killed during the recent protests in Iran, highlighting the tragic stories of these individuals.

In the wake of Iran's violent crackdown on protests, BBC News Persian has verified the deaths of more than 200 individuals, including young men and women. Through thorough investigation and eyewitness accounts, the project chronicles how and when these individuals lost their lives while advocating for change. Notably, it sheds light on the authorities' acknowledgment of at least 3,000 casualties, masking a larger humanitarian crisis.

BBC News Persian has verified the identities of more than 200 of the thousands of people killed during Iran's brutal crackdown on the recent widespread protests.

The project has scoured social media, verified online footage, and used eyewitness accounts to build up a chronicle of how and when the protesters were killed, as well as some details about their lives.

Many of these accounts were provided to the BBC by sources close to the victims and were cross-checked against data from human rights organisations.

Since the unrest began in late December, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has confirmed the deaths of 6,872 protesters, including more than 150 children.

'Side by side'

Iranian authorities acknowledge that at least 3,000 people were killed, but claim some were members of the security forces.

Among those killed were Mansoureh Heydari and her husband, Behrouz Mansouri. A family friend told BBC News Persian that the couple had joined the protests in Bushehr, in south-west Iran, when both were shot dead by security forces on 8 January.

The couple died side by side in the street, leaving behind two children aged eight and 10. Their bodies were returned by security forces four days later and they were buried next to each other.

'Dad, I am burning'

Many of the faces featured in the project are young men and women, mostly in their late teens to early 30s.

A 17-year-old art student, Ghazal Damarcheli, was shot outside her family home in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, on 9 January.

Soon after, 28-year-old biotechnology student Negin Ghadimi died in her father's arms during protests in Tonekabon.

The ongoing project gathers crucial information through multiple interviews with sources inside Iran and has created an interactive face wall on the BBC News Persian website where readers can explore the profiles of victims identified through the research.

The team aims to add further names and stories as verification continues, emphasizing the need to bring these tragic stories to light amidst ongoing unrest.