Hossein Rabiei

Their life

Hossein Rabiei was a 34-year-old Iranian shop owner from the city of Qom who became one of the civilians killed during the widespread anti-government protests in early January 2026 in Iran. He was participating in demonstrations that erupted across the country in response to economic hardship and political repression. Rabiei was reportedly present at a protest in Qom, where clashes occurred between protesters and security forces. During those confrontations, he was fatally wounded as part of the crackdown by state forces, and his death was later recorded in casualty lists compiled by independent monitors of the uprising.

Hossein Rabiei lived and worked in Qom, a major religious city in central Iran. As a shop owner, he was part of local society and not widely known internationally prior to the events of January 2026. When nationwide protests spread to Qom, Rabiei joined others demonstrating against the government’s policies, which included deepening economic issues and political grievances. In the context of an increasingly violent response by Iranian security forces, Rabiei was wounded during a confrontation and later died as a result of that injury. His name appears on verified lists of civilians killed by security forces during the unrest, underscoring the broad impact of the crackdown on ordinary citizens.

How they died

Hossein Rabiei died from a gunshot wound incurred during a protest in Qom. Reports indicate he was struck in the chest amid clashes with security forces

During the protests, Iranian security forces — including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other state units — used live ammunition and heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators in several cities. In Qom, Rabiei and other civilians were caught in the violent suppression, and Rabiei’s death resulted from such direct force. Official claims attempted to attribute the cause to other circumstances (such as an accidental explosion), but these were disputed by family members and independent observers, who maintained that security force actions were responsible

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Hossein Rabiei, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources