Ilam; Saeed Safari, Kurdish “Dehbalayi” from Ilam and soccer veteran, was killed by bullet wounds and baton strikes Repressive forces attacked him for saving his friend’s life

January 28, 2026; “Saeed Safari,” a 49-year-old Kurdish citizen from Ilam belonging to the “Dehbalayi” tribe, is the identity of another victim of the popular protests in Ilam who was severely wounded on January 9, 2026, by baton strikes and pellet gun fire from the repressive forces of the Islamic Republic and lost his life after six days in a coma.

An informed source, while confirming this news to Kurdpa, stated; On the evening of January 9, 2026, “Saeed Safari” had taken to the streets like thousands of other protesting citizens. While saving the life of his friend, who was being attacked with a “machete” by plainclothes security agents, he was targeted at close range in the chest area by pellets fired by the repressive forces. Following that, the repressive forces rushed toward him and repeatedly beat him with batons, particularly in the face and chest area.

According to this source, Saeed Safari, who had previously undergone surgery, went into a coma due to the severity of the repeated baton strikes and finally died on January 14, 2026, after six days in a coma. His body was buried in the “Salehabad” cemetery of Ilam. Although the atmosphere of the ceremony was highly securitized and accompanied by a heavy presence of security forces, slogans were chanted against the government during the burial.

Subsequently, government institutions, including the Governor and Governor-General of Ilam, visited the Safari family's home and, in exchange for an offer of money, asked them to declare that this former soccer player had been killed by what the government calls “rioters”; a request that Saeed Safari’s family categorically rejected.

Saeed Safari, 49 years old, was the father of two sons and a daughter. He was a former player for the “Pas” and “Persepolis” soccer teams of Ilam and was considered one of the grassroots soccer coaches, and was a member of the “Dehbalayi” tribe of Ilam.