Iranian footballer Mojtaba Tarshiz and his wife lost their lives during recent protests in Iran. Reports say security forces shot them on January 8 in Qaemshahr, Mazandaran province. The couple left behind two young daughters. They joined demonstrations calling for change and freedom.
Tarshiz was 47 years old. He grew up in Qaemshahr and started his football career there. He played as a midfielder in Iran’s top league for several clubs. His time included stints at Esteghlal Ahvaz from 2007 to 2009, where he made seven appearances. Then he moved to Tractor Sazi in Tabriz for two seasons, playing 38 times. Fans in Azerbaijan region knew him well from those days.
He later joined Mes Sarcheshmeh, scoring twice in 31 games. A loan to Fajr Sepasi saw him net five goals in 30 matches. He finished his career at Mes Kerman and Gostaresh Foulad, retiring in 2016. Tarshiz never scored a lot but was steady in midfield. He broke up plays and passed well.
After football, he stayed out of the spotlight. He focused on family. Posts online show him as a dad who wanted better for his girls. One message said he and his wife went out to protest for a future with freedom for their daughters. They left the kids with grandparents that night. Security forces opened fire, killing both.
This happened during widespread protests that started late last year. People took to the streets over economic problems, rights issues, and government policies. Clashes turned violent in many cities. Forces used guns, pellets, and arrests to stop crowds.
Death toll numbers differ a lot. Activist groups say over 12,000 to 20,000 protesters died. One report from Iran International puts it at least 12,000, mostly in a few days during internet blackouts.
Government officials claim around 2,000 to 3,000 total, including their own forces. Rights groups like HRANA report over 2,550 deaths. Reuters says 490 protesters and 48 security personnel killed.
CNN and Politico both mention at least 544. Amnesty International noted 28 deaths in early January alone. Iran Human Rights counted 45 in the first 12 days, including kids. PMOI says more than 3,000 by January 11. Al Jazeera warns the real number could be higher due to blackouts.
Internet shutdowns made news hard to get out. Phone lines got cut too. Still, stories like Tarshiz’s spread on social media. Posts on X show anger and sadness. One user called it a massacre and shared photos. Another urged football stars to speak up. People tagged players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane. Fans remembered Tarshiz from Tractor days. They called him a hero now.
Protests hit sports before. A coach got hurt in Tehran. Young athletes died too, like a teen footballer in earlier reports. Tarshiz’s death stands out because of his past fame. Tractor won the league last season. His old club felt the loss.
World leaders watched. US President Trump called for more protests and threatened action. Iran warned back against attacks. Groups like Amnesty called for probes into killings.
Tarshiz got buried quietly on January 11 in Karaj. No big funeral due to tensions. His story adds to calls for justice. Families want answers. Protests keep going in places like Tabriz and Tehran.
This wave started December 28, 2025. Women and youth lead many marches. Forces cracked down hard, using live fire.
Tarshiz wanted simple things. Freedom for his girls. A better Iran. His death shows the cost. Thousands arrested, over 10,000 in some counts. The world keeps track as numbers rise.
More details come out slowly. Blackouts lift in spots. Stories like this remind why people risk it all.
