At Least 21 Iranian Artists Killed in January Government Crackdown

Iranian security forces killed at least 21 artists and cultural workers during a month-long crackdown on nationwide protests that began January 8, 2026. The deaths occurred across multiple cities as government forces opened fire on demonstrators, turning what Amnesty International later called "the deadliest period of repression by the Iranian authorities in decades" into a systematic killing of photographers, musicians, actors, and filmmakers alongside thousands of other civilians.

The Scale of Violence

Death toll estimates vary widely due to a government-imposed internet blackout that prevented real-time documentation. The Human Rights Activists News Agency confirmed 6,425 protester deaths by February 1, with another 11,280 cases still under investigation. But two senior officials from Iran's Ministry of Health told Time Magazine that hospital records showed 30,304 deaths on January 8 and 9 alone, far exceeding the regime's official count of 3,117. The officials reported that hospitals ran out of body bags and began using wheel trucks to transport corpses.

Artists in the Streets

The documented artist deaths span multiple disciplines and demographics. Ghazal Aghaei Lindi, a 28-year-old nature photographer, was shot in Tehran's Qaleh Hasan Khan neighborhood on January 9. That same day, singer Babak Jamali, a father of two from Arak, and filmmaker Javad Ganji were killed in separate incidents. Theatre director Ahmad Abbasi died on Piroozi Street in Tehran on January 8.

Some victims were children. Abolfazl Yaghmouri, a 17-year-old rapper who recorded his poetry in a small home studio, was shot in the heart in Karaj's Fardis district on January 9. Sky News obtained testimony that he bled for 40 minutes while security forces prevented bystanders from helping him. Hengaw classified him as a child victim. Mahan Qadami, a 23-year-old rapper and barber, was killed the same evening in Islamshahr, Tehran, shot by government forces during the protests. Like Abolfazl Yaghmouri, he used rap to express himself, and both young artists were among multiple musicians and poets killed during the crackdown.

Women made up a significant portion of the cultural casualties. Shabnam Ferdowsi, an orphaned puppet maker whose only income came from selling handmade dolls, was killed on January 8 in Tehran. Her brother spent hours searching for her body among dozens of corpses inside a truck. Violinist Sanam Pour Babayi was shot on January 18 during protests outside a government building in Lahijan. Theatre actress Reyhaneh Yousefi, 28, died in Tehran on January 9.

Documentation Under Threat

Artists at Risk Connection published a memorial on January 29 documenting individual artists by name, with biographical details and circumstances of death. Hengaw Organization for Human Rights verified multiple cases through video evidence and witness accounts, including additional artists not initially documented by international organizations. But documenting the violence carried its own risks. Authorities arrested lawyer Mohammad Hadi Jafarpour on January 18 after he signed a public letter condemning the use of lethal force. Human rights defenders Afsoon Alimoradian and Vafa Salehi were detained five days later.

Amnesty International stated that the killings may constitute crimes against humanity under customary international law. The figure of 21 confirmed artist deaths represents only those whose identities, professions, and circumstances could be verified despite the information blackout. The actual number remains unknown.

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Source: https://www.mimeta.org/mimeta-news-on-cens...
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AuthorLitangen
CategoriesArtist at Risk, Artists in Protest, Western Asia
TagsIran, Artists at Risk Connection, Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Mohammad Hadi Jafarpou, Afsoon Alimoradian, Vafa Salehi, Amnesty International