Saeed Safari: Ilam Football Veteran, Killed by a Gunshot and a Baton

Iranwire – According to information obtained by IranWire, Saeed Safari, a 49-year-old veteran of Ilam football, was injured by Islamic Republic forces during protests on Friday, January 9, and died a few days later after falling into a coma.

A close friend told IranWire that during his playing days, Safari’s technique and dribbling were widely admired. Tall and handsome, he earned the nickname “The German Boy” in Ilam.

Safari, a father of two sons and a daughter, took to the streets on January 8 and 9 like thousands of other protesting citizens. An eyewitness told IranWire: “They were a group of old friends and relatives. They didn’t break windows or set anything on fire; they were just chanting. Then, a plainclothes agent attacked Saeed’s closest friend with a machete and wounded him. At that moment, Saeed ran toward them to save his friend, but officers shot him with a pellet gun from a distance of less than one meter.”

According to the source, after shooting him in the chest with the pellet gun, the officers swarmed him, striking his face and chest with batons: “Saeed had recently undergone open-heart surgery. They beat his chest, ribs, and face so severely that he fell into a coma.”

The beloved youth coach remained in a coma for five days before passing away on January 14. An informed source said that because he belonged to the Dehbalayi tribe of Ilam, security agencies – fearing public rage – returned his body without demanding any fees.

The source added: “He was buried in the city’s main cemetery, Salehabad. The atmosphere during the burial was extremely heavy. For every mourner, there were two security agents present. Despite this, the people chanted slogans.”

A day after the funeral, the Governor and the Prefect of Ilam, along with other provincial officials, went to Saeed’s father’s home. They offered a large sum of money in return for the family announcing that the former player had been killed by what the government calls “rioters.” The source told IranWire the family was outraged and replied, “We offer our man to Iran, not for money.”