Hana: In the early hours of Tuesday, May 12, 2026, direct fire from Basij forces stationed at a checkpoint in Bonab resulted in the death of a 35-year-old citizen identified as Ehsan Shirkhani. According to reports received by Hana, forces at the checkpoint targeted the citizen’s vehicle under the pretext of “failure to comply with a stop command.”
An informed source told Hana that the Basij forces targeted the cabin of the vehicle directly, failing to observe the protocols established in the “Law on the Use of Weapons,” which require firing warning shots, utilizing deterrent methods, or targeting the vehicle’s tires first. According to this source, Ehsan Shirkhani was struck by four bullets and died instantly at the scene.
As of the time of this report, no responsible authorities have provided a transparent explanation regarding the details of the shooting or the status of the personnel involved in the incident.
Hana condemns this action and emphasizes that, according to Article 7 of the Law on the Use of Weapons by Armed Forces Personnel, the use of firearms is permitted only under conditions of absolute necessity and must adhere to the principle of proportionality. Direct fire toward vital parts of a citizen’s body in the absence of an imminent threat to life is a clear violation of the right to life and contradicts the international obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Hana further warns that the continued extrajudicial use of weapons by military and paramilitary forces at checkpoints, coupled with a lack of independent investigations and the practical immunity granted to perpetrators, creates a climate conducive to repeated serious human rights violations and the arbitrary deprivation of citizens’ lives.