Pregnant mother of two ID’d among six women killed in Iran protest crackdown: report

A woman who was pregnant with her third child was identified as one of six female protesters killed by Iranian security forces during an anti-government protest, according to human rights groups.

Sholeh Sotoudeh, of Langarud, was confirmed to have been killed while attending a protest in the Gilan Province on Jan. 10, when police fired live ammunition at the demonstrators, the Norwegian-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights said.

The group also confirmed the death of local activist Ziba Dastjerdi, 33, who was allegedly shot in front of her daughter during a protest in Nishapur.

Sholeh Sotoudeh, Sara Behboodi, Ziba Dastjerdi, Zahra Bagheri, Sanam Pourbabayi, and Aida Aghili were identified as six of 28 women allegedly killed by security forces during the protests in Iran. Hengaw Organization for Human Rights/Instagram

Dastjerdi had attended the anti-regime rally despite facing a sentence of 18 months in prison for her involvement in the nation’s 2022 protests.

Hengaw also identified Zahra Bagheri, a mother of three, among the dead. She was struck in the head by gunfire during a protest on Jan. 8, according to the group.

Mountaineer Sara Behboodi, 45; music instructor Sanam Pourbabayi; and Tehran resident Aida Aghili, 34, were also killed while attending recent protests.

Their deaths bring the total number of women killed during the protests to 26, according to Hengaw, which is just one of several human rights groups attempting to verify the total death toll in Iran after protests broke out on Dec. 28.

Records from eight major hospitals and 16 emergency departments suggest that between 16,500 and 18,000 people have been killed, according to a report. AP

At least 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, have been verified by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency since demonstrations erupted across Tehran.

An Iranian official — citing verified figures — however, claimed that at least  5,000 people have been killed in the protests, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, records from eight major hospitals and 16 emergency departments suggest that between 16,500 and 18,000 people have been killed, the Sunday Times reported.

The exact death count remains difficult to verify amid the near-total communications blackout in Iran, which the regime began on Jan. 8 and shows no sign of ending.