Alireza Hozouri, a 40-year-old heavy-vehicle battery maker and a father of a 10-year-old son, was from Golpayegan.
He was killed on January 8 or 9, 2026 (18 or 19 Dey 1404), during a national uprising. According to reports, he was shot by a direct bullet to the neck or throat. An eyewitness stated that a sniper on a rooftop fired a combat round into his neck. After he was shot, government forces dragged his semi-conscious body across the asphalt.
Following his death, security forces demanded one billion tomans from his family as a “right-to-shoot” payment for his body. His family refused to pay due to financial inability and as an act of protest. His 40th-day memorial was held while his family reportedly remained under the shadow of threats and repression from the regime.
Relatives of victims from small towns like Golpayegan expressed their frustration, stating, “kids from small towns and the poorer neighborhoods have a faint voice in the media; we don't have fancy photos for anyone to speak about us.” They also noted that despite Golpayegan being a small city, the death toll had reached up to 40 people, but most families remained silent due to the terrifying atmosphere of repression.