A committed pharmacist and a homesick blogger – the Iranian civilians killed in the war
A Committed Pharmacist and a Homesick Blogger – The Iranian Civilians Killed in the War
Tehran and other cities in Iran have faced relentless airstrikes from the United States and Israel for over three weeks, with thousands of targets struck across the country. Among the victims are civilians whose stories remain largely untold, but fragments of their lives are beginning to surface through the smoke of war and an internet blackout. Two of these individuals are Parastesh Dahaghin and Berivan Molani, whose tragic fates highlight the human cost of the conflict.
The Pharmacist’s Sacrifice
Parastesh Dahaghin, a young pharmacist, perished in an explosion that hit her workplace in Tehran’s Apadana neighborhood. According to the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, the attack occurred near an IT company building linked to Iran’s internet shutdown. Video shared online shows a mourning ceremony where framed pictures of her are displayed beside candles and flowers. Her brother, Poorya, recounted on Instagram that she was simply doing her job when she was killed. “People need me, people have been wounded,” she told him, emphasizing her duty to assist elderly patients in need.
“You were so noble,” he added in tribute.
The Blogger’s Tragic Return
Berivan Molani, a 26-year-old lifestyle blogger and online clothes shop owner, was an only child who had recently returned to Tehran from northern Iran. She missed home and was in bed when debris from an air strike struck her head. A friend, Razieh Janbaz, shared on Instagram that Berivan’s family was unaware the country’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, resided opposite them on Makouyipour Street in the affluent Zafaraniyeh district. Janbaz described the aftermath: “She was killed in her bed, right before going to sleep, during the missile attack on March 17th.”
Janbaz, a former Iran handball team member, visited the area after the strike and found only a pair of trainers left from Berivan’s life. “Several neighbors were also killed in the Israeli airstrike targeting Khatib last week,” he noted. “They lost her without even knowing who lived across the street.”
Children Among the Casualties
Three-year-old Eilmah Bilki, whose image was provided to the BBC by Kurdish rights group Hengaw, is another casualty. The group reported she was severely injured in US-Israeli strikes in early March and died a day later. The toll on civilians is accelerating, with reports indicating that 15% of the 1,400 deaths recorded by US-based HRANA are children. One of the deadliest incidents was a missile strike on a primary school in Minab, southern Iran, where 48 children and 10 adults were killed. The attack targeted a nearby military base, though the US military has not officially confirmed responsibility.
“Reports point to US involvement as it targeted a nearby military base,” noted Hengaw, which expressed “grave concern” over the increasing civilian toll.
Struggles of Information Gathering
Iran does not publicly report its military losses, but HRANA estimates at least 1,167 personnel have been killed since the war began. Meanwhile, Iranians face arrests for using the internet, which has been restricted during the conflict. Even with strong on-the-ground connections, human rights groups struggle to collect data on casualties. Hengaw claims border guards have been ordered to shoot individuals utilizing Iraqi phone and internet networks near the border, aiming to control the population and shape the war’s narrative.
“It’s a really heartbreaking situation for people,” said Hengaw’s Awyar Shekhi. “They’re terrified.”
People are “terrified,” he added, citing earlier this year’s incidents where civilians were killed on the streets. Despite the chaos, the names of a few victims are now emerging, offering a glimpse into the lives lost amid the escalating violence.
