17-Year-Old Protester Killed in Custody After Being Wounded in January Protests

A 17-year-old protester who was wounded during Iran’s January demonstrations was later killed after being taken into custody by security forces, according to testimony and forensic analysis gathered by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC).

Investigators say the evidence shows that Sam Afshari was alive when he was detained by security forces in the city of Karaj, but was later killed while in custody by a gunshot wound to the head. The findings indicate the fatal injury was consistent with an execution-style killing carried out after his arrest.

“The bullet entered through the back of his head and exited through his face,” said Shahin Milani, executive director of IHRDC, in comments to Iran International.

Milani stressed that the injury Afshari suffered during the protests was not the wound that caused his death.