Referee and student among hundreds killed in Iran protestspublished at 12:58 GMT
12:58 GMT
Image source, Instagram/Iran Human Rights
A football referee and a student are among hundreds of people reportedly killed during the massive anti-government protests in Iran.
Coach Amir Mohammad Koohkan, 26, was hit by live ammunition on 3 January during protests in the town of Neyriz, his friend told BBC Persian.
“Everyone knew him for his kindness”, they said, adding his family is grieving and “angry because he was killed by the regime”.
Koohkan was killed in Neyriz in south-west Fars Province, his friend told BBC Persian. The friend did not witness the incident firsthand, but heard from eyewitnesses at the scene.
“It was far too soon for him,” the friend said, adding that Koohkan was “someone who didn’t like to see people in this state… in this misery”.
Five days later, student Rubina Aminian, 23, was shot from behind during a protest in Tehran, according to human rights groups. “She fought for things she knew were right”, her uncle told CNN.
Aminian was shot from behind while taking part in a protest on Thursday, according to three rights groups.
Two groups – Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and Kurdish organisation Hengaw – said she was shot in the head, while the Kurdistan Human Rights Network said she was shot in the back. Both Kurdish groups said she was shot by government forces.
The BBC has been unable to independently verify the circumstances of her death.
The 23-year-old, whose first name has also been spelled Robina or Roubina, was studying textile and fashion at Shariati Technical and Vocational College in Tehran, IHRNGO said.
She was “thirsty for freedom, thirsty for women’s rights,” her uncle said.