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BBC investigation uncovers identities of Iran protest victims
An in-depth probe by BBC News Persian has confirmed the identities of more than 200 individuals killed during Iran's recent crackdown on mass demonstrations, exposing the human toll behind the unrest.
Methodology and findings
The investigation combined social media analysis, verified video footage, and firsthand accounts from sources close to the victims. Many testimonies were corroborated with data from human rights organizations, including the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which has documented 6,872 deaths since protests erupted in late December-over 150 of them children.
Iranian authorities acknowledge at least 3,000 fatalities but claim some were security personnel.
Personal tragedies emerge
Among the verified victims were Mansoureh Heydari and her husband, Behrouz Mansouri, shot dead by security forces on 8 January during a protest outside a mosque in Bushehr, southwestern Iran. Witnesses said Behrouz was struck in the head; Mansoureh, who initially fled, returned to his side and was killed moments later. Their bodies were held for four days before being returned to their family, who buried them together. The couple left behind two children, aged eight and 10.
"We are proud they died for their homeland," a relative told the BBC, though the family now lives under intense security surveillance.
Young lives cut short
Many victims were young adults. Ghazal Damarcheli, a 17-year-old art student, was shot outside her home in Karaj, west of Tehran, on 9 January. Security forces later pressured her family, refusing to allow a local burial. Her remains were interred in a distant cemetery.
That same night, 28-year-old biotechnology student Negin Ghadimi was killed in Tonekabon, 200km north of Tehran. Despite her father's pleas to stay home, she joined protesters. Hit by gunfire, she collapsed into her father's arms, saying, "Dad, I'm burning."
Verification challenges
The investigation faced hurdles, particularly during the peak of protests on 8 January, when Iran's government severed internet and phone access for nearly three weeks. The BBC team relied on Starlink satellite connections and eyewitnesses who traveled to border areas to access neighboring networks, piecing together reports from inside the country.
Footage from morgues, including Tehran's Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre, helped confirm identities and circumstances of deaths. Funeral videos and memorial images provided additional details.
Ongoing effort
The BBC's Visual Journalism team has created an interactive "face wall" on the BBC News Persian website, allowing readers to explore victims' profiles. The project remains active, with plans to add more names as verification continues.
