On the afternoon of Monday, May 11, 2026, Seyed Zanyar Hosseini, a young Kurdish man from the village of Bardeh Rasheh in the Tileko region of Saqqez, was killed by direct fire from the military forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Robat Karim area of Tehran.
According to reports, Mr. Hosseini was driving his personal vehicle, reportedly carrying a quantity of alcoholic beverages, when he was targeted without any prior warning. He was struck by two live bullets in the head and neck, resulting in his immediate death at the scene.
Under the “Law on the Use of Weapons by Armed Forces Personnel in Urgent Cases,” military and law enforcement officers are legally required to follow specific protocols including verbal commands to stop, warnings, and warning shots before using direct force. Direct fire is only permitted as a last resort under the principles of necessity and proportionality, and even then, targeting sensitive and vital areas of the body is strictly prohibited.
The body of Seyed Zanyar Hosseini, son of Seyed Ata and Chiman, was laid to rest on the evening of Tuesday, May 12, at Aychi Cemetery in Saqqez. To date, responsible authorities have provided no transparent information regarding the details of the shooting, the identity of the officers involved, or the results of the forensic medical examination.
The Hana Human Rights Organization expresses deep concern over the continued use of lethal force against Kurdish citizens. Hana calls for an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation into this incident, accountability for those responsible, and full compliance with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s legal and international obligations to protect the right to life.