Saeed Safari

Saeed Safari, a 49-year-old veteran and former football player from Ilam, was injured by the Islamic Republic forces during the protests on Friday, 19th of Dey 1404 (January 9, 2026), fell into a coma, and died a few days later. He was a former player of Pas and Persepolis Ilam football teams and a grassroots football coach. An eyewitness told IranWire that Saeed Safari was shot with birdshot from close range and then beaten with batons while trying to save his friend from an attack by plainclothes forces. He had recently undergone open-heart surgery, was in a coma for five days, and died on 24th of Dey 1404 (January 14, 2026).