Iranian Security Forces Kill Amateur Boxer Amid Tehran Protests, Father Searches Morgues in Desperate Hunt
TEHRAN, Iran — Sepehr Ebrahimi, a 19-year-old amateur boxer, was shot and killed by Iranian security forces during ongoing protests near Tehran, sources close to the opposition say. The young athlete’s death adds to the mounting toll of at least 6,126 people killed in the nationwide demonstrations that have gripped Iran since late 2025.
According to Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Ebrahimi was shot on January 11 in the Andisheh area, roughly 19 miles west of Tehran’s city center. Harrowing footage circulating online shows Ebrahimi’s father desperately searching through morgues, crying out for his missing son among piles of bodies wrapped in black body bags. After a week-long search, the father identified his son’s body in one of the morgues.
The protests, which began as a response to political repression and economic hardship, have been met with a brutal crackdown by Iranian security forces. Reports from human rights organizations and international observers confirm a sharp escalation in violence, with the government imposing strict measures including a digital blackout to control information flow. The U.S. Department of State’s 2025 Human Rights Report details the Iranian regime’s use of lethal force and mass arrests during these protests.
Amateur athletes like Ebrahimi have become symbolic figures in the movement, representing a generation demanding change. His death has sparked renewed international condemnation and calls for accountability. The Human Rights Watch 2026 World Report highlights the ongoing violations and urges the United Nations to take action to protect civilians.
Iran’s government has also enforced a near-total internet blackout, severely restricting access to independent news and social media platforms. The Federal Communications Commission and other global digital rights organizations have condemned these measures as attempts to silence dissent and obscure the true scale of the crisis.
International bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, have expressed concern over the rising death toll and urged Iran to respect human rights and allow independent investigations. As the unrest continues, families like Ebrahimi’s face the unbearable anguish of loss compounded by the struggle to find truth amid government obfuscation.
Sepehr Ebrahimi’s tragic death underscores the human cost of Iran’s political turmoil and the urgent need for global attention to the plight of protesters and civilians caught in the crossfire.
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