Ali Azizi
Gunshot wounds inflicted by IRGC-affiliated Basij forces.
During protests in Harsin, Basij units linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps used live ammunition against demonstrators. Ali Azizi was shot during this crackdown and died from his injuries. Human rights observers have documented similar cases across Iran, where lethal force was used against unarmed protesters, followed by attempts to misattribute responsibility or suppress independent accounts.
Biography
Ali Azizi was a resident of Harsin, Kermanshah Province, who was killed on 2 January 2026 during protests in the city. He was shot by IRGC-affiliated Basij forces amid a security crackdown on demonstrators. Following his death, state-affiliated media attempted to portray him as a Basij member and to blame protesters for his killing. However, eyewitnesses confirmed that Ali Azizi had been among the protesters and died as a result of gunfire by security forces. His funeral was held under strict control two days later.
Ali Azizi lived in Harsin, a city in western Iran that experienced protests in late 2025 and early 2026 amid growing public anger over political repression and economic hardship. On 2 January 2026, Ali joined demonstrations in his city. During the protest, Basij forces operating under the IRGC opened fire, and Ali was fatally shot.
After his killing, state-linked media outlets attempted to misrepresent him as a Basij member in order to deflect responsibility from security forces and shift blame onto protesters. Eyewitnesses rejected this narrative, stating clearly that Ali was participating in the protest and was shot by security forces.
According to people close to the family, Ali’s father was subjected to pressure and threats by IRGC forces and was forced to publish a video regarding his son’s death. Ali’s funeral was held on 4 January 2026 in a government-managed ceremony under IRGC control, reflecting ongoing efforts by authorities to control public mourning and narratives surrounding protest-related deaths.
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
According to people close to the family, Ali Azizi’s father was forced under pressure and threats from IRGC forces to publish a video addressing the case. The family was unable to hold an independent funeral; instead, the burial on 4 January 2026 was conducted in a government-controlled ceremony under IRGC supervision, indicating coercion and restrictions on public mourning. No freely given public plea from the family has been reported.
Sources & References
At least 150 Kurdish citizens killed in Iran protest crackdown1 kurdistanhumanrights.org Open source
Since late December 2025, Iranian state security forces have engaged in massacres of dissidents during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests.3 en.wikipedia.org Open source