‘The world needs to know what’s happening’: families of protesters killed in Iran tell of heartbreak

From left: Mahdi Zatparvar, Robina Aminian and Ebrahim Yousefi, all of whom were killed in the Iranian government’s crackdown on protests. Composite: courtesy

The families of Iranians killed by the regime in its crackdown on anti-government protests over the past week have told the Guardian of their devastation on learning of their relatives’ deaths.

More than 2,500 people have been killed so far, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, but the death toll is expected to rise substantially as the regime eases a communications blackout imposed since 8 January.