Iranian biker influencer shot dead for participating in anti-Khamenei protests
India Today
Diana Bahadori, 19, had 144,000 followers on Instagram and was popular for her grand reels showcasing her control of superbikes. She reportedly had taken part in ongoing protests in Iran in the nights preceding her death on January 9.
A 19-year-old Iranian biker influencer, Diana Bahadori, was reportedly shot dead by security forces on January 9. Known on Instagram as 'Baby Rider', the influencer with 144,000 followers, had taken part in the ongoing protests in the country in the nights preceding to her death, IranWire reported.
Bahadori, whose videos on Instagram are grand and show her control over superbikes, was reportedly shot twice around midnight of January 9. Her family searched for her for two days before receiving her body on January 11.
In a twist, however, a statement on the teen influencer's official Instagram page said that she died due to an "accident". "A tribute to dear Diana. It was the result of the accident. Her family is deeply saddened. Please do create rumours. Thank you for all the sympathy," the statement, roughly translated from Persian, read.
IranWire reported that the crackdown on protesters in Gorgan city was significantly brutal, with forces allegedly deploying machine guns and other heavy weapons. It added that Bahadori's family is under severe pressure from Iranian security agencies and intelligence to publicly deny that the government was responsible for her death. The IranWire also reported that the teen's body was buried in secret.
Iranian journalist and activist, Masih Alinejad, slammed the Iranian government over the death of Bahadori, saying her only crime was she was "born under an Islamist dictatorship".
Look at this beautiful girl. She was full of love and joy for life.Even with all the restrictions and bans in Iran, she broke the rules and followed her passion. A strong, fearless young woman who went against the Islamic Republic’s laws that say women can’t ride motorcycles, pic.twitter.com/fLsGPr0PeF— Masih Alinejad (@AlinejadMasih) January 26, 2026
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