Hassan Samakoush: Father of Two Dies After Being Shot in the Eye

According to information obtained by IranWire, Hassan Samakoush, known locally as “Hassan Dayi” (Uncle Hassan), was shot at point-blank range in the eye and head on Thursday, January 8, leaving him critically wounded. He remained in a coma for three days before passing away on Sunday, January 11.

Since the 2022 uprisings, there has been a documented “epidemic” of protesters being shot in the eyes with metal pellets (birdshot) or paintballs. Human rights groups argue this is a deliberate tactic to “mark” protesters and inflict permanent disability as a deterrent.

Hassan was hit by multiple shots near the 13th Police Station at Shahrebani Intersection in Babol, a major city in Iran’s northern Mazandaran province.

The metal pellets fired at the 48-year-old from close range caused massive brain hemorrhaging, leaving only a quarter of his brain intact. An ophthalmologist in Iran confirmed that many targeted in recent protests face the same fate: “The pellets enter through the eye and travel into the brain, destroying vital tissue.”

Dr. Rouzbeh Esfandiari, a Houston-based physician and former Tehran emergency responder, analyzed Samakoush’s CT scans: “The projectile entered through the eye right next to the nose, from close range. The scans show intraocular hemorrhaging, eye protrusion, and a severed optic nerve. The bullet reached the brain, causing bleeding around the right lateral ventricle. The resulting swelling and inflammation caused a ‘midline shift,’ which pressures vital organs and leads to death.”

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Hassan Samakoush was a real estate consultant, a father of two, and a respected figure in his community. After he was shot, a friend lifted him onto his shoulders and ran through narrow back alleys, shouting for help, until an elderly woman opened her door and handed them gauze to stop the bleeding. They first took him to Marzikola Medical Center, but were turned away because it was a maternity hospital. By the time they reached Rouhani Hospital in Babol 20 minutes later, Hassan had barely any vital signs left.

A source at Rouhani Hospital said that while Hassan lay intubated in the ICU, armed intelligence agents repeatedly entered and exited his room. His family was kept out, while plainclothes officers patrolled the courtyard, recording the details of every wounded protester who arrived.

According to an informed source, Hassan Samakoush was not the only individual who sought treatment at Babol’s Rouhani Hospital for pellet wounds to the eyes and head: “In just one shift on Friday, we had seven cases of eye injuries. The emergency physician’s diagnosis for three of them was permanent blindness, while the others were referred to the ophthalmology department.” This source further stated that on the night Hassan Samakoush was hospitalized alone, between 10 and 12 wounded individuals with eye injuries were transported to this hospital.

In recent protests, numerous reports have emerged documenting protesters being shot in the face and eyes.

Burial Under Duress: Threatened with the “Terrorist” Label

Hassan’s children were only allowed to collect his body after signing a written pledge to the intelligence services, promising there would be no “incidents” or gatherings at the funeral. Despite the family’s efforts to keep the burial quiet, tensions rose after his eldest son spoke on the third day of the memorial service.

Authorities pressured the family to register Hassan as a “Basiji,” a member of the government militia allegedly killed by rioters. They warned that refusing would result in the family being labeled a “terrorist family” and facing severe consequences. His children rejected the demand, saying they would not pay “ransom” to those responsible for their father’s death.

The state often tries to “claim” the victims it kills. By labeling a victim a “Basij martyr,” the state hides its crime, creates fake statistics of “government casualties,” and attempts to buy the family’s silence with a pension. Refusing this is an act of immense bravery, as it leaves the family vulnerable to being labeled “enemies of the state” or “terrorists.”

Locals in Babol remembered “Hassan Dayi” as a well-loved figure who admired Reza Shah, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. He was laid to rest in his birthplace, Babolkenar.