Details of the brutal killing of a female fashion student during anti-regime protests in Iran have been released, shining a light on the deadly scale of the military crackdown.
Rubina Aminian, 23, a student of textile and fashion design at the women-only Shariati College in Tehran, is among an estimated 500 people to have been killed in the protests to date.
Ms Aminian, who was described by those close to her as “a young woman full of joy for life and passionate about fashion and clothing design” was shot and killed on Thursday night, according to Iran Human Rights.
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With the country in the midst of a severe communication blackout, sources close to her family have told the group that eyewitnesses reported she was “shot from close range from behind, with the bullet striking her head”.
Members of Rubina Aminian’s family travelled from Kermanshah, where they live, to Tehran to identify her body, according to a statement from the group.
Sources close to the Aminian family told Iran Human Rights: “The family was taken to a location near the college where they were confronted with the bodies of hundreds of young people killed during the protests”.
“Most of the victims were young people between 18 and 22 years old, who had been shot at close range in the head and neck by government forces. At first, the family was not allowed to identify Rubina’s body, and later they were not permitted to take her body with them.”
Ms Aminian’s mother said “It wasn’t just my daughter; I saw hundreds of bodies with my own eyes”.
“The family was forced to search among the bodies themselves to identify their daughter, and they undoubtedly saw many of the bodies of young people killed during the protests.”
It is understood after a standoff Ms Aminian’s family were eventually able to retrieve her body and return home but on arrival they found intelligence forces had surrounded their home and that they were not allowed to bury her.
Ultimately they were forced to bury her body along the road between Kermanshah and Kamyaran. they were not allowed to hold any mourning ceremonies and turned away by several mosques.
The Centre for Human Rights in Iran, based in New York, has warned a massacre is unfolding in Iran.
Witnesses had reported that “hospitals were overwhelmed, blood supplies are critically low, bodies are being piled up, and the number of casualties is rising by the hour.”
the centre said many protesters had been shot in the eyes. and witnesses had reported the use of snipers, military rifles and surveillance drones.
“CHRI warns that a massacre is unfolding,” the organisation said. “The world must act now to prevent further loss of life.”
US President Donald Trump is early this week expected to be briefed on options to respond to the ballooning protests.
Mr Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
