Yousef Bakhshi
He was killed during public protests in Chalus after being shot by security forces while participating in demonstrations against the government. His death occurred as part of the broader crackdown on protesters during the 2026 Iranian protest crackdown.
According to reports, Yousef Bakhshi was struck by a direct shot to the chest during demonstrations. The bullet hit his heart, causing critical injuries. He was transferred to a hospital after the shooting but later died from the severity of the wound. The use of live ammunition against protesters suggests lethal force was used to suppress demonstrations.
Biography
Yousef Bakhshi was a 27-year-old shopkeeper originally from Quchan with Kormanji Kurdish heritage. He had been living and working in Chalus, where he was known in the local business community. During protests on 8 January 2026, he joined demonstrators in the city and was shot by security forces with live ammunition, sustaining a fatal gunshot wound to the heart. After being taken to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. His body was later returned to his hometown of Quchan, where he was buried.
Yousef Bakhshi was born in Quchan and belonged to the Kormanji Kurdish community. At some point, he and his family moved to Chalus, a city along the Caspian coast, where he established himself as a shopkeeper and became a familiar figure among local merchants.
Friends and relatives described him as a gentle and kind individual who maintained strong ties with both the Kurdish community and the residents of Chalus. On 8 January 2026, amid nationwide protests, he joined demonstrations in Chalus. During the unrest, government security forces reportedly opened fire on protesters using live ammunition.
Yousef was struck by a bullet that penetrated his chest and heart. He was taken to a medical facility but died shortly afterward from the severe injury. Following his death, his body was transported back to his ancestral hometown of Quchan, where family members and relatives held his funeral and burial on 10 January 2026. His death became one of many cases cited as evidence of the use of lethal force against protesters during the January 2026 demonstrations in Iran.
Additional Information
Sources & References
Yousef Bakhshi, a 27-year-old Kurdish citizen from Quchan, was wounded by gunfire from the Islamic Republic’s military-security forces during protests in Chalus, Mazandaran Province, on 8 January.1 kurdistanhumanrights.org Open source
Yousef Bakhshi, 27, Fatally Shot in the Heart in CHALUS, MAZANDARAN – Reports have confirmed the death of Yousef Bakhshi, a 27-year-old local shopkeeper, who was killed by security forces during the protests on January 8, 2026 (18 Dey).2 x.com Open source
Yousef Bakhshi, 27, Fatally Shot in the Heart in CHALUS, MAZANDARAN – Reports have confirmed the death of Yousef Bakhshi, a 27-year-old local shopkeeper, who was killed by security forces during the protests on January 8, 2026 (18 Dey).3 instagram.com Open source