Story
Sina Ashgbousi was a 16-year-old protester whose life was cut short during the nationwide protests in January 2026. Just days after his 16th birthday, on the evening of January 8, 2026, he was killed by security forces in Tehran. The incident occurred at the Third Square of Tehranpars, where he was shot in the abdomen and heart with live ammunition.
According to a close relative who spoke to Iran Human Rights, the crowd at the Third Square of Tehranpars had grown significantly that evening. Sina, along with dozens of other young people, bravely decided to move to the front line to form a protective barrier. He was filled with joy and hope, repeatedly shouting to his family, "We've won! We've won!" Between 9:30 and 10 p.m., continuous gunfire erupted, and events unfolded rapidly.
Sina's parents tried to reach him by phone but received no answer. Eventually, someone answered his mobile phone, informing them that he had been wounded and taken to Tehranpars Hospital. Upon arrival, the family was confronted with the devastating sight of their child's lifeless body, drenched in blood, having succumbed to two bullet wounds to the abdomen and heart. His family was among the few who managed to reach the hospital before his body was transferred to forensic facilities. However, they were only able to retrieve Sina's body after five days of relentless follow-up. Security agencies then forced the family to sign a written undertaking, ensuring that Sina's burial would be conducted quietly and without any public announcement.
Sina was born on December 28, 2009. He was described as a kind, gifted young man and the only child of a cultured, educated family, raised among paintings and books. He had traveled to many countries, experiencing freedom firsthand, and dreamed that one day the people of his own country would live in prosperity, security, and freedom. This dream motivated him to join the protests with his family for the "freedom of Iran." He aspired to become a doctor, but, as a source close to the family stated, "the Islamic Republic destroyed all his dreams with two bullets." His mother, a writer, had given him her first book, The Legend of the Golden Boy, when he was six, reading it to him every night for a long time. Sina's parents continue to face close surveillance and intense pressure from security forces, with their home telephone lines monitored and restrictions on contacting even their closest relatives abroad.