Two more Christian converts are confirmed to have been among those killed by the Islamic Republic’s security forces in its brutal response to last month’s mass demonstrations.

Nader Mohammadi, 35, and Zahra Arjomandi, 51, were both shot dead on 8 January in separate protests 1,000 miles apart.

Nader, who leaves behind three young children aged five and under, was killed in Babol in the far north, while Zahra, who was a mother of two, died in her son’s arms on the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm, in the far south.

Their deaths mean the total number of Christians confirmed to have been killed during the protests is at least 19, including members of both Iran’s recognised (Armenians and Assyrians) and unrecognised (converts) communities.

Nader, who lived in Isfahan, had only travelled to Babol for work. 

In his last message before his death, he told his relatives: “I have come to the streets on the orders of the [Crown] Prince [Reza Pahlavi], and I must obey this order.”

Mr Pahlavi had called for nationwide demonstrations on the evenings of 8 and 9 January, after which millions of Iranians took to the streets, only to be met with lethal force.

Nader’s family searched both detention centres and morgues for three days, before his body was finally identified on 11 January in a morgue. His injuries were reportedly so severe that he could only be recognised by known marks on his body.

Zahra, meanwhile, was shot after being separated from her son during the communications blackout. He later discovered her injured and took her to hospital, but she died in his arms.

Iranian Christian website Mohabat News reported that Zahra’s body was held by the security forces for six days, before it was finally released for burial under “strict security measures”, including a ban on any memorial service or spreading information about her death.