Hamid Mahdavi was a 38-year-old firefighter, international rugby referee, and well-known athlete from Mashhad, Iran.

On the evening of January 8, he was fatally shot while helping injured protesters. A video that later circulated shows him carrying a wounded man, Jafar Javidi, on his back as he tries to move him away from the violence and to safety.

Moments later, Hamid was struck by a bullet in the neck and lost his life.

Who would have thought that becoming a firefighter could mean being killed—not by collapsing buildings, raging fires, or the countless dangers that come with saving lives, but by your own government while doing nothing more than trying to keep another human being alive?

The tragedy is almost impossible to comprehend. Firefighters dedicate their lives to protecting others, regardless of who they are. To be deliberately targeted while carrying out that very mission feels surreal. It is a heartbreaking reminder of how devastating violence can become, and how, in moments like these, it can seem as though each act of cruelty surpasses the last.

Mehdi (Masoud) Zatparvar was a former bodybuilding champion, bodybuilding coach, and athlete from Rasht, Gilan Province, Iran. Born in 1986, he was 39 years old at the time of his death.

Zatparvar was killed by direct gunfire from Iranian government forces during anti-government protests in Rasht on January 9, 2026.

Zatparvar held a master's degree in Sports Physiology and was widely respected as a bodybuilding coach in Gilan Province.

He was the son of Majid Zatparvar, a well-known bodybuilding coach and former champion. From an early age, Mehdi trained in his father's gym, where he developed the skills and discipline that shaped his athletic career.

According to reports, shortly before joining the protests, Zatparvar wrote on social media that the people of Iran were simply demanding their rights and expressed his willingness to sacrifice for freedom and the country's future. His message was widely shared after his death and became a symbol of his final stand.

Farzaneh Tavakoli was a 40-year-old mother of two from Arak who was killed by Islamic Republic security forces on January 9, 2026, while participating in the nationwide protests in Tehran's Khaniabad district.

Farzaneh's life was taken, but her courage could not be erased. She is remembered as one of the countless Iranians who stood for freedom, knowing the risks, and whose sacrifice continues to inspire hope for a freer Iran.

Ali Bordbar Javid, born in 1987, was 38 years old and the father of 18-year-old Shiva Bordbar Javid. Shiva, born in 2007, was a young architecture student in Mashhad.

On January 8, 2026, the father and daughter joined demonstrations in Mashhad. While they were together on Haft-e Tir Street, Ali was reportedly struck in the neck by live gunfire while chanting alongside other protesters. He collapsed and died in front of his daughter.

According to accounts of the incident, Shiva threw herself over her father's body and was subsequently taken away by security forces. For ten days, her family did not have her back. Her body was later returned to them with severe injuries and her face reportedly bandaged. Her recorded date of death was January 9, with brain trauma reported as the cause.

Ali and Shiva were eventually laid to rest beside one another in Behesht-e Reza Cemetery in Mashhad. Their story became particularly poignant because they represented two generations of the same family. I don’t know how Shiva felt when she saw her dad got killed and I don’t know how much pain she went through when she got killed. This is beyond depressing….I am speechless.