Saman Nazari

Their life

Saman Nazari, a 23-year-old resident of the Dareh Deraz neighborhood of Kermanshah, was a follower of the Yarsan (Ahl-e Haqq) faith. He was killed during nationwide protests in Iran in early January 2026, when security forces opened fire on demonstrators in his neighborhood. His death occurred amid a broader crackdown on protests, during which access to independent verification was severely limited due to internet shutdowns and communication restrictions.

Saman Nazari lived in Kermanshah (Kermashan), a city with a significant Yarsan population that has historically faced political and religious marginalization. As protests spread across Iran in early January 2026, residents of the Dareh Deraz neighborhood joined demonstrations expressing public dissent. On the evening of January 7, 2026, security forces confronted protesters in the area. Saman Nazari was among those targeted during the operation and was fatally shot. Local sources later confirmed his identity as one of the individuals killed, though independent verification remained constrained due to a nationwide internet shutdown and restrictions on international communications.

How they died

Gunshot wound resulting from direct fire by security forces.

Iranian security forces opened direct fire on protesters in the Dareh Deraz neighborhood of Kermanshah. Saman Nazari was struck by live ammunition during this operation and died as a result of his injuries. Reports specifically attribute the shooting to forces affiliated with the Nabi Akram Corps, a unit operating under Iran’s security structure. The use of live fire against demonstrators was part of a wider pattern reported during the January 2026 crackdown.

Why we remember them

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

References & sources