Iranian Regime Kills Protester Over Shah Tattoo Amid Crackdown; Photojournalist Sentenced to 15 Years

New testimony from Iran reveals the brutal killing of 29-year-old protester Farid Ramazani during the large-scale crackdown on demonstrators in Tehran on January 8. Security forces initially shot Ramazani in the back, then upon noticing a tattoo of the Pahlavi crown on his right hand, they attempted to obscure it by shooting his hand before delivering a fatal shot to his forehead at close range. Authorities delayed releasing his body for nearly two weeks, demanded payment for the bullets removed, and forbade burial in Tehran. Ramazani was eventually buried in Hasajin, Ardabil province, where families of other victims held a memorial during Nowruz.

In a related development highlighting Iran’s repression of journalists, renowned photojournalist Yalda Moayeri was sentenced to 15 years in prison for documenting protests and women’s struggles. The sentence was handed down under a law enacted after the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, aimed at combating espionage and collaboration with hostile states. Moayeri reported being denied official court documents, with charges including giving interviews to foreign media and sharing images with organizations linked to the US and Israel. Her home was raided multiple times by Revolutionary Guards, who confiscated her electronic equipment and cameras, some held since childhood. Despite repeated interrogations and arrests, Moayeri vowed to continue her work documenting Iranian society’s realities.

These revelations underscore the Iranian regime’s harsh measures against dissent and the severe risks faced by activists and journalists amid ongoing protests.