Names That Must Not Be Forgotten
Iranian women played a central and courageous role in the January 2026 uprising, standing shoulder to shoulder with men—and often at the forefront. Young and old, mothers and daughters, aged 13 to 66; nurses and homemakers, students and engineers; women from every region and ethnic background took part. Some even brought their young children with them.
Time and again, women led the protests, raising chants of “Death to Khamenei,” “Death to the dictator,” and “This is the year of sacrifice to overthrow Khamenei.”
They repeatedly confronted and pushed back the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other repressive forces. They stood before water cannons, blocked streets, and refused to retreat. For this courage, many paid the ultimate price.
The heroic uprising of Iranian women and men was met with extreme brutality. Protesters who had filled the streets across all corners of the country were subjected to a massacre.
On Ali Khamenei’s orders, security forces opened fire with lethal intent. Snipers targeted protesters’ heads, hearts, and eyes. From rooftops and pedestrian bridges, they unleashed volleys of bullets on unarmed civilians—young and old alike—firing indiscriminately.
By Khamenei’s own admission, “several thousand people” were killed. According to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), more than 50,000 individuals were arrested.
The PMOI has also verified and published the names of 2,572 people who lost their lives during the regime’s violent crackdown on the January 2026 uprising. Among the identified victims are 286 women and 172 children and teenagers under 18 years of age.
In this context, the NCRI Women’s Committee publishes the following list of women and girls who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and equality during Iran’s January 2026 uprising. They symbolize the will of a people who have risen for freedom.
This list will be updated as further names become known.
