According to reports received by the Karun Human Rights Organization, Naji Sawari, a 55-year-old Ahwazi Arab man, son of Qassem and a resident of the Golestan neighborhood in Ahwaz, was shot with live ammunition by security forces during protests and was ultimately killed.
Local sources state that Naji Sawari, known as “Abu Mithaq,” was selling fruit at the time of the incident and had no involvement in the protests or any clashes. He was shot in the neck but did not die at the scene. Despite his severe injury, he initially returned home and was later transferred to Karmi Hospital. He eventually succumbed to his injuries and was killed in the hospital.
According to these reports, one day after Naji Sawari was killed, security forces went to his family’s home and demanded that they refrain from publicly disclosing the circumstances of his killing or stating that he was shot by security forces. In exchange, the family was reportedly promised that an official “martyrdom” certificate would be issued so that they could be placed under the coverage of the Martyrs Foundation.
This case represents yet another instance of the lethal use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians, the exertion of pressure on victims’ families, and attempts to manipulate the official narrative surrounding the cause of death during recent protests. Such practices raise serious concerns regarding violations of the right to life, lack of transparency, and impunity for perpetrators of violence.
