Mohammad Momen Zandkarimi

Mohammad Momen Zandkarimi (April 23, 2004 – November 2, 2022)

Mohammad Momen Zandkarimi was born on 23 April 2004 in Sanandaj, Iran. He was the son of Obaid and Hayat Zandkarimi and grew up in this Kurdish city. From an early age, he developed an interest in sports and began practicing taekwondo around 2012. Under the supervision of his coaches, he trained consistently and went on to win several local and provincial championships in Kurdistan. He held a Poom 1 black belt and was known as a young promising athlete.
In 2022, amid nationwide protests across Iran, Sanandaj became one of the main centers of demonstrations and clashes. On 2 November 2022, during the 46th day of the protests, 18-year-old Momen Zandkarimi was present in the area of Golshan Square in Sanandaj. According to multiple accounts, he was struck at close range by shotgun pellets during the unrest. Some reports also describe that he was severely beaten after being injured.
Following the incident, he suffered critical injuries and heavy internal bleeding. It is reported that he was initially moved from the scene—either by bystanders or acquaintances—to his home, and then his condition worsened. While being transferred toward hospital care in Sanandaj, he died due to the severity of his injuries. Some accounts state that he passed away before reaching Kowsar or Tohid Hospital.
After his death, his family, under difficult and tense circumstances, transported his body to their ancestral village of Machkeh in the Dehgolan region (also referred to as Machkeh Sofla). He was buried on the night of 4 November 2022 under heavy security and with only close family members present. Reports also mention pressure on the family and restrictions surrounding funeral arrangements.
On the night of the burial, his father released a video statement saying that his son had been killed by government forces. This statement quickly spread and drew widespread attention.
In the following days, memorial gatherings were held for the third and seventh days after his death in Sanandaj and at his burial site. These events were attended by groups of people and, according to several reports, were accompanied by chants of protest as well as security pressure on participants. Some attendees were reportedly summoned or intimidated afterward.
His 40th-day memorial was held on 18 December 2022, where family members and members of the community once again gathered in his memory.
Mohammad Momen Zandkarimi is remembered by parts of the local community in Sanandaj as a young athlete whose life was cut short during the events of 2022, leaving behind a story marked by grief and differing narratives surrounding the circumstances of his death.