ByCORINNE BAUM

JULY 8, 2026 15:06

Updated: JULY 8, 2026 17:11

Mehdi Eskandarian, 44, was a dedicated family member who held firm beliefs in an improved future for every Iranian citizen.

He passed away on January 9, 2025, amid demonstrations opposing the Islamic Regime.

His relatives recall him as the central figure in his household, always maintaining an optimistic perspective and sharing hope generously.

He enjoyed outdoor activities, participated in sports, and remained a dedicated supporter of the Persepolis Football Club throughout his life.

Who was Iran protest casualty Mehdi Eskandarian?

He held the view that the Islamic Regime lacked the qualifications to govern the nation and supported the return of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to leadership in Iran.

He expressed admiration for the Israeli people and hoped that Iranian Jews could one day visit their homeland again.

He often shared images of the Pahlavi family and displayed the Israeli flag on Instagram, actions considered grave violations under the Islamic Republic's regulations.

Half a year earlier, he joined countless fellow Iranians in public demonstrations demanding transformation.

He understood the risk that security personnel could resort to gunfire against demonstrators yet withheld this information from his relatives to preserve their optimism.

If we fail to take to the streets today for Iran’s liberty, our offspring might one day be compelled to do so in our place, he told his spouse shortly before the demonstrations.

Our lives are at stake now to secure a brighter tomorrow for them.

A family member fighting for his children’s tomorrow

On the opening night of demonstrations, he grew optimistic that transformation was possible due to the vast numbers gathered. After Iranian security personnel opened fire on the crowd, he assisted wounded demonstrators to safety.

Even after witnessing the initial day of violence, he still chose to return on January 9.

His family lost contact with him that evening during the gunfire in Fardis, Karaj. They located him at Shahriar Hospital in Karaj with a gunshot injury to his head, as well as wounds to his neck and around his eyes, which the family attributes to beatings.

Physicians informed the family that survival beyond 72 hours might allow recovery. He endured 75 hours in the hospital on life support, which was later discontinued without the family’s awareness.

According to his family, officials asserted that Eskandarian was killed by the Iranian military for alleged ties to Israel.

What happened to Mehdi Eskandarian's remains?

After he died in the hospital, his family was compelled to retrieve his remains from a morgue by manually searching through stacks of deceased demonstrators.

They found his remains with the bullet still lodged in his head. It was later extracted during his autopsy and returned to the family.

His funeral was closely observed by state agents, and since then, his headstone has been damaged by the government on multiple occasions.

His family was informed that because he was a rioter, he merited death.

Eskandarian is survived by his spouse and two children, aged 16 and 8 years old, respectively.

Since his death, his son, 16, has been required to assume the role of head of household and has taken on duties well beyond his years.

On Eskandarian’s birthday, his son spent hours at the grave site embracing the stone and weeping.

His daughter, 8, still awakens at night calling for her father to return home. She does not grasp that he is deceased.

The family told The Jerusalem Post that their greatest difficulty has been losing the individual who united the family.

Mehdi served as the provider, protector, and emotional anchor for the entire household.

They maintain that what occurred constituted a war crime and that silence regarding it is inexcusable.

The family also observed that they hope for liberty, peace, and friendship between Iran and Israel, because they believe that both nations have endured loss and strife for many years.

The family has urged the international community to continue highlighting demonstrators who lost their lives, and that discussions between the US and Iran should ensure the regime faces responsibility.

The world should not overlook what occurred or permit discussions without accountability, the family added in a statement.

He loved his family deeply and labored constantly to create a better life for them. He is gone, but his memory and what he stood for remain with those who knew him.