Saghar Etemadi
Saghar Etemadi was killed as a result of lethal force used by Iranian security forces during the nationwide protests in early January 2026. She was shot in the face by a shotgun pellet while participating in or present at protest activities in Farsan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, amid a violent crackdown on demonstrators demanding economic relief and political freedoms. The injury proved fatal, and she died the following day in hospital.
Saghar Etemadi was struck in the face by a shotgun pellet fired by Iranian security forces (Basij) during protests in Farsan on 3 January 2026. Pellet and shotgun wounds can cause severe facial trauma and internal injuries, and in Saghar’s case, the injury proved critical. She was evacuated to a hospital but succumbed to her wounds the next day, indicating that the projectile and subsequent trauma were irrecoverable. Her death reflects the use of direct lethal force against civilians during protest crackdowns.
Biography
Saghar Etemadi was a 22-year-old hairdresser and nail technician from Farsan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran. On 3 January 2026, she was shot in the face by Iranian security forces while participating in the nationwide 2025–26 protests against economic hardship and political repression. She was taken to Hajar Hospital in Farsan but succumbed to her wounds the following day, becoming one of the named civilian victims whose killing drew outrage on social media and international attention to the brutality of the crackdown.
Saghar Etemadi lived and worked in the city of Farsan, where she supported herself as a hairdresser and nail technician. In early January 2026, widespread protests erupted across Iran as citizens — particularly young people and women — voiced deep frustration with economic instability, inflation, and systemic repression. On 3 January 2026, Saghar joined protest activities in her home province. During clashes between demonstrators and security forces, she was shot in the face by a shotgun pellet fired by members of the Basij militia — a paramilitary arm of Iran’s security apparatus.
She was immediately transported to Hajar Hospital in Farsan for medical treatment. Despite efforts by medical staff, Saghar’s injuries proved fatal, and she died from her wounds on 4 January 2026. Her death was widely circulated and mourned on social media, and many Iranians compared her killing with prior highly publicized cases of protest-related deaths, highlighting ongoing state violence against civilian demonstrators. Iranian authorities, however, denied that she had died, claiming she was injured but in stable condition.
Additional Information
Saghar Etemadi was killed as a result of lethal force used by Iranian security forces during the nationwide protests in early January 2026. She was shot in the face by a shotgun pellet while participating in or present at protest activities in Farsan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, amid a violent crackdown on demonstrators demanding economic relief and political freedoms. The injury proved fatal, and she died the following day in hospital.
Sources & References
Farsan protest leaves 22-year-old woman injured, reports say1 iranintl.com Open source
Saghar Etemadi was a 22 year old Iranian anti islamic regime protester in Farsan, Iran. Saghar was shot in the head by pellet guns, refer to photo in the comment section. Saghar succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.2 facebook.com Open source
Saghar Etemadi, a 22-year-old Iranian protester, was shot in the face with pellet bullets by IRGC and later died in hospital.3 instagram.com Open source