According to information received by IranWire, security agencies across several Iranian cities have intensified pressure on the families of protesters killed during nationwide demonstrations. Despite the silence maintained by the family of Karim Heidari, a young man killed during protests on January 8 in Bandar Genaveh, a local source reports that security forces continue to target them:
“Genaveh is a small town where everyone knows each other. Identifying those who shot Karim was not difficult, which is why his family faced intense pressure from the very first days. Authorities blocked the bank accounts and SIM cards of family members, forcing them to close their shops.”
The source added that the harassment extends to daily mobility and property ownership: “Their vehicle license plates were flagged in the system. They are restricted from entering or leaving the city, buying or selling vehicles, or taking any official actions. It seems that the quieter a family remains, the more every aspect of their life and future falls under the oppressor’s control.”
Karim Heidari, a 31-year-old resident of Bandar Genaveh and the father of a three-year-old child, died on the evening of Thursday, January 8, 2026, after being shot directly by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij forces. Local sources indicate that at least six people were killed in Bandar Genaveh that night. Authorities held Heidari’s body for approximately one week, releasing it only after extracting nearly two billion tomans (~2 billion rial equivalent) from his family. His burial took place under a heavy security presence.
