Ashkan Shahbazi

Ashkan Shahbazi, a young man from the city of Ardabil in northwestern Iran, was shot and killed by security forces during the nationwide anti-government protests of January 2026. Most sources, including local activists and the iranvictims.com database, give his age as 20. Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) lists him as 25 and records his death on Friday, 9 January 2026 (19 Dey 1404). He was among the first four protesters in Ardabil whose identities were confirmed after they were killed by gunfire. A list of killed healthcare workers published by Medical Staff for Human Rights – Austria identifies him as a nurse in Ardabil; this has not been confirmed by other sources. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has also verified his death. He was buried in Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Ardabil.