Christian Firefighter ‘Yohanna’ Killed During Rescue Operation in Rasht Bazaar

The death of ‘Yohanna,’ an Assyrian firefighter, during a rescue operation in Rasht bazaar, symbolizes the danger faced by Christians in Iran amid the suppression of nationwide protests.

As nationwide protests in Iran have entered their second month and casualties span across society, some local reports and news sources from religious minorities indicate that a significant number of Christian citizens have been killed in confrontations with security forces’ crackdowns. Although these events have received limited coverage in Iranian state media, independent reports and eyewitnesses paint a grim picture of the violent dimensions of the ongoing crisis.

An Assyrian news source announced in an Instagram post that at least 25 Iranian Christian citizens, including 20 Armenians and 5 Assyrians, have lost their lives during Iran’s national uprising. The report states that ‘Yohanna,’ an Assyrian firefighter, was killed by direct gunfire from security personnel during a rescue operation while suppressing the Rasht bazaar. The post describes the firefighter as follows: ‘Yohanna, an Assyrian firefighter, was killed by direct gunfire from security personnel while attempting to rescue wounded civilians from the fire at Rasht bazaar.’

Another section of the same post, published in French, emphasizes that due to fear of retaliation, the names and photos of other Christian victims have not been disclosed, and families have still been unable to receive the bodies of their loved ones—a painful reality that reflects the widespread oppression in Iran today.

Independent evidence shows that protests have spread nationwide since late December 28, 2025 (December 7, 1404), and the government’s response has involved increasing use of violence, direct shooting at protesters, and the use of firearms.

According to credible reports from human rights organizations and advocacy groups outside Iran, thousands of people have been killed across Iran, and this number continues to be revised and increased (estimates that even report 36,500 deaths on December 8-9).

Independent reports also show that in Fasa (Fars Province), at least 11 Christians, church members, have died, and in Mashhad, more than 55 church members are missing, with unclear status as to whether they are detained or among the victims of the crackdown.

Additionally, independent media and social sources have reported that several other Christian citizens who were born Muslim but converted to Christianity have lost their lives in various Iranian cities, including Isfahan and other areas, due to direct gunfire or deprivation of medical care.

This list is merely an example of how popular protests are intertwined with the real lives of Iran’s Christians; a minority that has faced legal and social pressures in recent years and has now not been spared from the effects of crackdowns amid a bloody national crisis.

Human rights advocates say: ‘People who were minorities because of their faith are now in danger for their lives during the protests, and the exact number of victims remains unclear,’ an issue that is difficult to fully verify due to internet shutdowns, widespread censorship, and a climate of fear within the country.

Alongside these cases, we must address a deeper context of pressure and violations of religious rights: human rights groups have previously documented that arrests, convictions, and harassment of Christians in Iran have increased, with dozens receiving lengthy prison sentences for religious or political activities.

During these nationwide protests in Iran, which began from economic and social grievances and have turned into demands for political change and fundamental freedoms, the crisis has not only become a national human rights catastrophe but has also revealed that religious minorities face the most severe state violence.