Kian Pirfalak

On November 16, 2022, during the Mahsa Amini protests in Izeh, Iran, 9-year-old Kian Pirfalak was tragically killed when government security forces reportedly opened fire on Izeh market. Kian, who was sitting in his parents' vehicle, sustained fatal injuries, and his father, Meysam Pirfalak, was critically wounded.

Contrary to the family's account and eyewitnesses, Iranian authorities initially attributed Kian's death and the attack to ISIS terrorists, circulating a statement that BBC Monitoring later deemed fake. The government later implicated four men, with two killed in an IRGC operation, and Abbas Mujahed Kurkur receiving a death sentence after alleged torture and a forced confession.

The funeral of Kian Pirfalak became a focal point for nationwide outrage against the government's use of lethal force on protesters, with attendees chanting anti-regime slogans. The incident sparked increased protests nationally and garnered international support. UNICEF condemned the death and detention of children in the aftermath of the 2022 protests in Iran.

Days after Kian's death, a viral video of him testing a hand-made boat circulated online, adding a poignant touch to the memorials. However, tragedy struck again on June 11, 2023, as a relative of Kian's mother, Pouya Molaeirad, was shot and killed by Iranian security agents during a memorial service for Kian. Iranian officials claimed self-defense, while witnesses and social media disputed this account. The events surrounding Kian Pirfalak's death highlight the complex and contentious circumstances within Iran's political landscape.