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Mani Yousefi: The young man ready to die so his brother could live free

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Mani Yousefi, 20, died during protests in Iran on January 8, 2025, with his mother stating he gave his life for the country's freedom.
  • His mother remembers him as warm-hearted and humorous, deeply devoted to the cause of freedom.
  • Authorities have not accepted responsibility for his death, and his mother continues to advocate for justice and the overthrow of the current regime.

Mani Yousefi, a 20-year-old from Tehran, died during protests in Iran on January 8, 2025. His mother states he sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country he loved and for the future of his younger brother.

Mani was a very warm-hearted and humorous young man who loved the cause of freedom above all else. In the end, he even gave his life for that freedom.

— Mani Yousefi's motherDescribing her son's devotion to the cause of freedom in Iran.

His mother remembers Mani as a warm-hearted, humorous young man who was devoted to the cause of freedom in Iran. "Mani was a very warm-hearted and humorous young man who loved the cause of freedom above all else," she told The Jerusalem Post. "In the end, he even gave his life for that freedom."

The night before he was killed, Mani went with friends to Khoramdasht in Karaj to help spark protests. His mother said he returned home deeply saddened, asking, "Why aren’t people coming out so that we can finally put an end to this?" He was killed the following evening.

Why aren’t people coming out so that we can finally put an end to this?

— Mani YousefiHis question to his mother about the lack of public participation in protests.

Authorities have not accepted responsibility for Mani's death. His mother said he was killed by two targeted gunshots: one to his heart and one to his pelvis. She views him as an immortal hero. The government’s Martyrs Foundation later contacted her twice to offer condolences, which she rejected. "Yes, they eventually returned the body of my beloved son to me," she said. "On the very first night, they had taken him to Behesht-e Sakineh Cemetery, after which we were able to hold his funeral."

I am ready to take a bullet to the head and die, as long as Makan can then have a good and free life.

— Mani YousefiHis mother recalling his words about his younger brother's future.

His mother finds strength to continue living because of Mani’s younger brother, Makan. She recalled Mani saying, "I am ready to take a bullet to the head and die, as long as Makan can then have a good and free life." For Mani's mother, justice is inseparable from the goal her son died for: "Justice will exist only when this regime has been overthrown, and our children achieve their goal - freedom. That alone is what matters."

Justice will exist only when this regime has been overthrown, and our children achieve their goal - freedom. That alone is what matters.

— Mani Yousefi's motherHer statement on justice and the ultimate goal of the protests.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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