Sam Afshariunder 18

سام افشاری

17 years old · Karaj · Alborz Province

8 January 2026 Killed during protests

Life

Final-year school student in computing
Persian original
دانش‌آموز سال آخر رشته کامپیوتر
He was studying computer networks
Persian original
او در رشته شبکه‌های کامپیوتری تحصیل می‌کرد
He was studying computer networks and hoped to continue his education abroad.
Persian original
He was studying computer networks and hoped to continue his education abroad.

Sam was his only child
Persian original
سام تنها فرزند او بود
Parviz Afshari, Sam's father
Persian original
پرویز افشاری، پدر سام
Sam was his only child
Persian original
Sam was his only child

Provincial swimming champion and fluent in several languages
Persian original
قهرمان شنای استان و مسلط به چند زبان
Hoped to continue his education abroad
Persian original
امیدوار بود تحصیلاتش را در خارج از کشور ادامه دهد
He wanted to continue his education, go to university and study computer engineering."
Persian original
می‌خواست ادامه تحصیل بدهد، به دانشگاه برود و مهندسی کامپیوتر بخواند.»
He described Sam as a cheerful and ambitious young man
Persian original
او سام را جوانی شاد و بلندپرواز توصیف کرد
"He joked a lot. We laughed a lot together. We always had video calls and talked about the future."
Persian original
«خیلی شوخی می‌کرد. خیلی با هم می‌خندیدیم. همیشه تماس تصویری داشتیم و درباره آینده حرف می‌زدیم.»
"I don't think he went out because of poverty. He went because of his beliefs. He wanted democracy and freedom of speech."
Persian original
«فکر نمی‌کنم به خاطر فقر بیرون رفت. به خاطر باورهایش رفت. دموکراسی و آزادی بیان می‌خواست.»
A tattoo on his chest with the word "Mother" in Latin script
Persian original
خالکوبی روی سینه‌اش با واژه «Mother» به خط لاتین
Sam’s father said his son had dreamed of studying information technology in Germany, where he planned to reunite with him.
Persian original
Sam’s father said his son had dreamed of studying information technology in Germany, where he planned to reunite with him.
Sam was born in 2008 in Karaj and had turned 17 just weeks before his death.
Persian original
Sam was born in 2008 in Karaj and had turned 17 just weeks before his death.
His father described him as cheerful and ambitious.
Persian original
His father described him as cheerful and ambitious.
a computer science prodigy, a competitive swimming champion and fluent in multiple languages
Persian original
a computer science prodigy, a competitive swimming champion and fluent in multiple languages
Sam had been preparing to join him in Germany later this year
Persian original
Sam had been preparing to join him in Germany later this year
“Dad, don’t tell mom anything. I’m going to fight for my rights. Iran is in danger. Please don’t tell my mother.”
Persian original
“Dad, don’t tell mom anything. I’m going to fight for my rights. Iran is in danger. Please don’t tell my mother.”

In the words of those close to them

Parviz Afshari, Sam's father, said in a conversation with Iran International's English podcast, "Iran Outlook": "The breathing tube was in his mouth. They came and shot him. A final bullet."— Parviz Afshari, Sam's father
Persian original
پرویز افشاری، پدر سام، در گفت‌وگو با پادکست انگلیسی ایران‌اینترنشنال، «چشم‌انداز ایران»، گفت: «لوله تنفسی در دهانش بود. آمدند و به او شلیک کردند. یک گلوله آخر.»

Said: "He had many dreams, and I had many dreams for him. We buried this child with thousands of dreams."— His father
Persian original
گفت: «او رویاهای زیادی داشت و من هم رویاهای زیادی برایش داشتم. این بچه را با هزاران رویا دفن کردیم.»

His father said: "He went for a free Iran. And instead we buried him."— His father
Persian original
پدرش گفت: «او برای ایرانی آزاد رفت. و ما به‌جایش او را دفن کردیم.»

The medic advised them to check the morgues— father Parviz
Persian original
The medic advised them to check the morgues

He had the breathing tube in his mouth. They came and shot him. A final bullet.— father Parviz Afshari
Persian original
He had the breathing tube in his mouth. They came and shot him. A final bullet.

He went for a free Iran," his father said. "And we buried him instead.
Persian original
He went for a free Iran," his father said. "And we buried him instead.

The inhuman repressive forces dragged my son— Parviz Afshari (father)
Persian original
The inhuman repressive forces dragged my son

The injury he sustained during the protests was not the shot that killed him— Shahin Milani (IHRDC)
Persian original
The injury he sustained during the protests was not the shot that killed him

How they died

The eternally remembered Sam Afshari, a final-year school student in computing, provincial swimming champion, fluent in several languages and resident of Azimieh, Karaj, was killed during the Dey protests.
Persian original
جاویدنام سام افشاری، دانش‌آموز سال آخر رشته کامپیوتر، قهرمان شنای استان و مسلط به چند زبان و ساکن عظیمیه کرج، در جریان اعتراضات دی‌ماه کشته شد.
Sam was shot from behind near a security police post at Mehran Square
Persian original
سام از پشت و نزدیک یک پاسگاه پلیس امنیت در میدان مهران هدف گلوله قرار گرفت
"In the hospital they finished him off with a shot to the back of his head. The bullet came out of his cheek."
Persian original
«در بیمارستان با شلیک به پشت سرش کارش را تمام کردند. گلوله از گونه‌اش بیرون آمد.»
a medic told Sam’s family that he was “in critical condition being treated for a single gunshot wound in the back of his head,” before security forces arrived and removed him along with other patients.
Persian original
a medic told Sam’s family that he was “in critical condition being treated for a single gunshot wound in the back of his head,” before security forces arrived and removed him along with other patients.
Sam was shot from behind near a security police post at Mehran Square.
Persian original
Sam was shot from behind near a security police post at Mehran Square.
Seventeen-year-old Sam Afshari had been taken to Madani Hospital in Karaj
Persian original
Seventeen-year-old Sam Afshari had been taken to Madani Hospital in Karaj

After their death

His brother found the name "Sam Afshari" in the list of those killed at the Behesht-e Sakineh morgue in Karaj
Persian original
برادرش نام «سام افشاری» را در فهرست جان‌باختگان در سردخانه بهشت سکینه کرج پیدا کرد
When Sam's mother was brought to identify the body, because of the severity of the injuries she could not recognise him at first.
Persian original
وقتی مادر سام برای شناسایی پیکر آورده شد، به دلیل شدت جراحات ابتدا نتوانست او را بشناسد.
The authorities had first ordered that Sam be buried at night in a remote area
Persian original
مقامات ابتدا دستور داده بودند سام شبانه و در منطقه‌ای دورافتاده دفن شود
After negotiation and payment of money, the relatives were able to obtain permission to bury him closer to Karaj
Persian original
پس از مذاکره و پرداخت پول، بستگان توانستند اجازه دفن او را نزدیک‌تر به کرج بگیرند
At Kalak-e Bala cemetery in Karaj, Sam was buried on top of the body of another young protester, because the plots were full.
Persian original
در گورستان کلک بالا در کرج، سام بالای پیکر یک معترض جوان دیگر دفن شد، زیرا قطعات زمین پر شده بود.
“They found him inside a body bag on Jan. 11 with a second bullet wound that tore through half of his face and made him almost unrecognizable,” Parviz told the Journal.
Persian original
“They found him inside a body bag on Jan. 11 with a second bullet wound that tore through half of his face and made him almost unrecognizable,” Parviz told the Journal.
She confirmed his identity only after asking officials to uncover a tattoo on his chest bearing the word “Mother” written in Latin script.
Persian original
She confirmed his identity only after asking officials to uncover a tattoo on his chest bearing the word “Mother” written in Latin script.
authorities initially ordered that Sam be buried quietly at night in a remote area. After negotiations and payments, relatives secured permission to bury him closer to Karaj
Persian original
authorities initially ordered that Sam be buried quietly at night in a remote area. After negotiations and payments, relatives secured permission to bury him closer to Karaj
At Kalak-e Bala cemetery in Karaj, Sam was buried above another young protester because burial plots were already filled.
Persian original
At Kalak-e Bala cemetery in Karaj, Sam was buried above another young protester because burial plots were already filled.
The family then went to the morgues and found Sam's body after four days in a body bag, with the marks of a second bullet that had shattered half of his face.
Persian original
خانواده سپس به سردخانه‌ها مراجعه کردند و پیکر سام را پس از چهار روز در کاور جسد یافتند؛ با آثار اصابت گلوله‌ دوم، که نیمی از صورتش را متلاشی کرده بود.
They found Sam on 11 January inside a body bag, with a second bullet wound that had shattered half of his face and made him almost unrecognisable.
Persian original
آن‌ها ۱۱ ژانویه سام را داخل کیسه جسد یافتند، با زخم گلوله دوم که نیمی از صورتش را متلاشی و او را تقریبا غیرقابل شناسایی کرده بود.

Sources

The name is recorded in at least two independent sources or in a human-rights organisation’s report.

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