The city of Hamedan witnessed large-scale and impassioned protests on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, after the brutal killing of two young off-road motorcyclists, Mehdi Abaa’i and Alireza Karbasi, by an armed Basij militia member at an unauthorized checkpoint.
Hundreds, including many women, gathered for the funeral procession of the victims, chanting openly anti-regime slogans and voicing their outrage over the escalating repression, violence, and injustice. The protest quickly transformed into a broader expression of public dissent against the regime’s systemic brutality.
Women, particularly young girls and university-aged women, played a leading role in the demonstrations. They defiantly shouted anti-government slogans with striking courage.
Images from the streets of Hamedan show women confronting state violence head-on, demanding justice and accountability for the killings.
Some of the key slogans heard during the protest included:
- “Our enemy is right here, they lie when they say it is America!”
- “I will kill the one who killed my brother!”
- “Death to the oppressor!”
These protests are not only a clear display of the public’s deep anger toward state violence and the conduct of Iran’s security forces, but also a testament to the determination and bravery of Iranian women, who continue to stand at the forefront of political and social resistance.
