Arshan Ghasemi, an 18-year-old Iranian-Canadian, was a promising polymer engineering student at the Science and Research University of Tehran. He was born in Toronto in July or August 2007.
Like thousands of other young people, Arshan took to the streets to demand his right to self-determination and the liberation of his country. During the nationwide protests in January 2026, also referred to as the Lion and Sun Uprising, he was confronted by suppressive forces.
On the evening of January 8, 2026, Arshan was killed in Haft-e Tir Square, Tehran. According to reports, he was shot with live ammunition by government agents, either directly in the neck with a military-grade bullet or from behind by two live rounds. His mother believed that his height, 198 cm, might have made him a target.
His death, as an 18-year-old dual citizen, sparked a wave of international condemnation and drew the attention of human rights media to the violent suppression of the January protests in Iran. He became known as "the voice of a generation." The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC) reported his death, noting that due to prevailing security conditions and limited free access to information, independent and full verification of the details of this report was not possible at the time.
Following his death, many expressed their grief and remembered him. Niloufar Farzandshad, a childhood friend of Arshan's mother, wrote on Instagram: “Arshan! my dear! As my daughter Anika says, you are in a better place! Arshan, your mother and I used to go to elementary school together during hard times. We were neighbors! The dearest, calmest, kindest, happiest-faced girl in school and a very lovable family…. Oh, my heart broke for you…. Brave boy! You will never be forgotten or leave our hearts. I wish patience for your dear family.” His mother also shared her sorrow, stating: “My dear Arshan My unseen son Your mother thinks that if you hadn't been 198 cm tall, maybe you wouldn't have been targeted. My dear Arshan I will keep your memory alive as long as I can.”