IRAN - Shayan Azadi and Qasem Vakili shot dead in Karaj and Qazvin

January 17, 2026 - IRAN. Shayan Azadi and Qasem Vakili shot dead by Iranian forces in Karaj and Qazvin

Two men, Shayan Azadi and Qasem Vakili, were killed by direct gunfire from Iranian government forces during recent protests in the cities of Karaj and Qazvin, respectively.

 According to information Hengaw received on January 17, Shayan Azadi, a 25-year-old resident of the Gohardasht district of Karaj, was killed on the evening of January 8, 2026, during protests in the area.

 Sources reported that Azadi was shot from behind and struck by multiple bullets fired by government forces in Gohardasht.

 At the same time, Qasem Vakili, a 40-year-old resident of Qazvin and the father of a young daughter, was shot in the head by government forces during protests in the city and was killed instantly.

 Vakili was a civil activist known for his humanitarian work, including providing relief assistance to victims of the Azgeleh earthquake in Kermanshah Province.

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/01/article-134