Shilan Salehi, a university student originally from the city of Baneh, Kurdistan Province, was pursuing her studies at Melli (Beheshti) University prior to the incident.
On January 8, 2026, amid widespread anti-government protests in the capital, Salehi was struck from behind by live ammunition fired directly by state suppression forces, resulting in her immediate death.
Following her killing, authorities placed severe pressure on her family, utilizing threats and demanding administrative pledges before releasing her body. The security apparatus reportedly extorted 150 million Tomans from the family as a condition for the return of her remains. After weeks of forced delays, her body was finally returned and interred on January 26, 2026, at the municipal cemetery in her hometown of Baneh.
