Videos Refuting the Official Government Narrative of the Lethal Shooting in Malekshahi
January 4, 2026; One day after the extensive shooting by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces at protesters in Malekshahi county using "Kalashnikov" military weapons and "pellet guns", the release of two verified videos refutes the state media's narrative regarding "protesters being armed" and "clashes with armed thugs." An analysis of the content of these videos shows that the shootings were carried out directly and purposefully toward an unarmed crowd.
The first video, which is 48 seconds long, was recorded from the front view of the building where the shooting occurred. In the initial scene, dozens of protesters are seen without any weapons, attempting to enter the building with empty hands. From the 17th second, the sound of direct and purposeful firing of dozens of bullets is heard inconsistently toward the protesters, indicating that many individuals were firing at them. This continuous shooting continues until the 36th second. At that moment, the protesters retreat, but the gunfire continues. From the 24th second, three individuals fall to the ground and are visible in the video, yet the shooting persists. From the 30th second, when protesters return to rescue the wounded and attempt to move them away, purposeful and continuous shooting begins again and continues until the end of the video at the 48th second, while protesters are lifting the wounded and moving them back. In this video, it is clear that one of the wounded, "Reza Alizadeh", is being carried by several protesters; he lost his life a few hours later.
The second video, published simultaneously with the early hours after the incident, was recorded from a side angle and at a greater distance from the building, lasting 1 minute and 7 seconds. In this video, only a few protesters are seen throwing stones. From the 30th second onward, continuous gunfire toward the protesters begins, and the crowd quickly retreats. Until the end of the video, scenes of transferring the wounded are seen, while the shooting still continues, and protesters who are retreating are also targeted by bullets.
These images stand in stark contrast to the narrative of state media. Fars News Agency initially described the events in Malekshahi as "quasi-terrorist riots" and called the protesters "armed rioters" who, according to this media outlet’s claim, intended to enter law enforcement centers and attack government buildings and banks. This is while no video exists of banks or other government buildings. Subsequently, Tasnim News Agency presented a more security-driven narrative, identifying the protesters as "armed and masked thugs," a "terrorist group," and elements "similar to Takfiri groups," even claiming the "discovery of weapons and grenades attributed to Israel" from them.
Based on the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the killing of unarmed protesters lacks any legal legitimacy;
According to the enacted laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the use of firearms against protesting citizens—if the individuals are not armed, are retreating, or are returning to save the injured—is absolutely prohibited, and no security or media justification can render it legal. Even in the most severe situations of unrest, Iranian law does not permit the use of military weapons against unarmed gatherings, and such an action, if it leads to injury or death, creates direct criminal and legal responsibility for the commanders and perpetrators.
According to the Law on the Use of Weapons by Members of the Armed Forces, direct shooting is only permitted in conditions of immediate and serious life-threatening danger, and even then, not against a crowd, but as a last resort and with the aim of repelling a specific threat. Furthermore, Article 27 of the Constitution explicitly recognizes gatherings without the carrying of weapons, and other articles of the Constitution emphasize the immunity of citizens' lives.
In conclusion, the purposeful and continuous shooting at unarmed protesters, regardless of the labels attached to them, is considered a clear violation of the domestic laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran and cannot be justified within the framework of "establishing security" or "security operations."
In this regard, read Kurdpa's exclusive report: "State-killing of Reza Azimzadeh and Mehdi Emamipour in Result of IRGC Fire Confirmed."
