Killing of Kian Pirfalak

Kian Pirfalak
The Pirfalak family in 2023
The Pirfalik family holding a portrait of Kian
Born11 June 2013[1]
Died16 November 2022(2022-11-16) (aged 9)
Izeh, Khuzestan, Iran
Cause of deathShooting by security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran[2][3][4]
Resting placeParchestan-e Gurui, Central District, Izeh County
NationalityIranian
Known forOne of the youngest victims of the crackdown on the Mahsa Amini protests

Kian Pirfalak (Persian: کیان پیرفلک; 11 June 2013 – 16 November 2022) was a nine-year-old Iranian boy who was killed in Izeh during the crackdown on the Mahsa Amini protests. He was shot by government security forces while sitting in his parents' vehicle during the attack on Izeh market.[2][3][4] His father, Meysam Pirfalak, was critically injured in the assault and was hospitalized.[5][6]

Pirfalak's mother and other family members who witnessed the incident blame the attack on Iranian security forces.[7] Islamic Republic news agencies, including IRNA, initially blamed Pirfalak's death on ISIS terrorists, circulating a statement attributed to the group claiming responsibility for the shooting.[4] BBC Monitoring, however, investigated the statement and concluded that it was fake.[8]

Pirfalak's death sparked nationwide outrage against the government and its use of extreme lethal force against protestors.[9][10][11] He is thought to be the youngest victim of the government suppression of protests in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini.[9][12][13]

In 2023, the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a death sentence for Abbas Mujahed Kurkur after he was tortured in prison and they obtained a forced confession.[14]

  1. ^ "سالروز تولد کیان پیرفلک؛ ایرانیان در شهرها و کشورهای مختلف سالگرد تولد او را گرامی داشتند". Iran International (in Persian). 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Amnesty was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CNN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT2022 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jahan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guardian2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Iran Says Seven Killed In 'Terrorist Attack' In Izeh Amid Protests". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b "The killing of a 9-year-old boy further ignites Iran's anti-government protests". The Washington Post. 18 November 2022. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  10. ^ Johnston, Holly (18 November 2022). "Iran: crowds cheer as Ayatollah Khomeini's ancestral home burns". The National. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  11. ^ Williams, Stuart (18 November 2022). "Angry Funerals Spark New Protests In Iran". Barrons.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Angry funerals spark new protests in Iran". The Manila Times. France-Presse Agence. 20 November 2022. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  13. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz (19 November 2022). "Iranian Protesters Attack Khomeini's Childhood Home as Unrest Spreads". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).