An incident in Iran has shocked the public as a young student was found shot in the back of the head and buried beside a deserted road. The victim, Rubina Aminian, a 23-year-old student from Tehran, participated in a protest against the Iranian regime after her textiles class at Shariati College but never returned home following the demonstration.
Iran Human Rights reported that the student was fatally shot at close range in the back of her head. Her parents, who traveled from Kermanshah to Tehran to identify her body, witnessed several other young individuals who had been killed in a similar manner, as per the group’s account.
The death toll from the recent crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has risen significantly, with activists confirming at least 538 casualties and over 10,600 detentions. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency highlighted that among the deceased, 490 were protesters and 48 were security force members, with concerns that the numbers could increase. The lack of internet access and severed phone lines in Iran have made it challenging to monitor the ongoing protests from outside the country.
Despite the escalating situation, the Iranian government has not disclosed overall casualty figures from the demonstrations. Notably, threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump against the regime for using violence on protestors have not materialized.
Iran’s parliament speaker issued a warning stating that the U.S. military and Israel would be considered “legitimate targets” if the U.S. decides to strike Iran over the unrest caused by the protests. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf’s statement came amid continued protests challenging Iran’s government, which have resulted in over 200 deaths, as reported by activists.
Concerns have been raised about an information blackout due to the restricted communication channels in Iran, potentially empowering hard-line factions within the country to crack down harshly on protesters.
President Trump expressed solidarity with the protesters, mentioning on social media that Iran is striving for freedom, and the U.S. is prepared to assist. Reports have emerged suggesting that military options for a strike on Iran were presented to Trump, although a final decision has not been reached yet.