Iranian fashion student Rubina Aminian shot in head at Tehran protest; family describes morgue of hundreds of corpses
Rubina Aminian, a 23‑year‑old fashion student in Tehran, was shot in the head at close range during anti‑government protests and her body was later found buried along a roadside. Her mother told CBS she had to force her way into a Tehran morgue where she saw “hundreds” of young people piled with head or neck wounds and said she was forced to “steal” Aminian’s 40‑kg body after authorities refused to release it; family members blamed Iran’s leadership and security forces and told CBS they fear 12,000–20,000 people have died in the crackdown.
📌 Key Facts
- Rubina Aminian, a 23‑year‑old fashion student in Tehran described by her aunt as “full of life” with big future goals, was shot in the head at a Tehran protest.
- Aminian’s mother searched a Tehran morgue and reported seeing “hundreds” of bodies of young people shot in the head or neck piled on top of one another.
- Family accounts say Aminian’s mother had to force her way into the morgue, then “stole” her daughter’s 40‑kg body and carried it back toward Kermanshah after authorities refused to release it.
- On‑record quotes from aunt Hilala Noori explicitly blame Supreme Leader Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Islamic Republic for Rubina’s killing and describe her niece’s motives for protesting.
- Family sources told CBS that at least 12,000—and possibly up to 20,000—people are now feared dead in Iran after more than two weeks of protests; the report also notes former President Trump said he had heard on “good authority” the killing is “stopping.”
📊 Relevant Data
Iran's annual inflation rate reached 48.6% in October 2025, marking the highest level since May 2023.
Iran Inflation Rate — Trading Economics
Food price inflation in Iran exceeded 70% in 2025, exacerbated by sanctions and declining oil income.
Iran: What challenges face the country in 2026? — UK Parliament Commons Library
Over a third of Iranians live in poverty as of April 2025.
Islamic Republic of Iran Poverty and Equity Brief : April 2025 — World Bank
Unemployment among women aged 20 to 24 in Iran reached 34.9% in 2025.
Youth Employment Crisis: Jobless Rate for Young Women Nears 35% — WNCRI
External shocks including sanctions caused a decade-long economic stagnation in Iran, driving inflation over 40% for four consecutive years and reducing households' purchasing power.
Iran Overview: Development news, research, data — World Bank
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Identifies Rubina Aminian as a 23‑year‑old fashion student in Tehran whose aunt describes her as 'full of life' with big future goals.
- Provides a detailed account of her mother’s search at a Tehran morgue, where she reportedly saw 'hundreds' of bodies of young people shot in the head or neck piled on top of one another.
- Reports that Aminian’s mother had to physically force her way into the morgue, 'steal' her daughter’s 40‑kg body and carry it back toward Kermanshah because authorities refused release.
- Includes on‑record quotes from aunt Hilala Noori explicitly blaming Khamenei, the IRGC and the Islamic Republic for the killing and describing her niece’s motives for protesting.
- Adds that family sources told CBS at least 12,000—and possibly up to 20,000—people are now feared dead in Iran after more than two weeks of protests, and notes that Trump claims to have heard on 'good authority' that the killing is 'stopping.'