BBC comedian heartbroken as Iran kills friend’s brother | UK | News
A BBC Comedian has spoken of his heartbreak after Iran killed his friend’s brother (Image: Getty)
In recent weeks, Iran has been engulfed by protests as citizens take to the streets to voice their opposition to the rule of an authoritarian theocracy.
In response, the Iranian government has acted with a heavy hand, with human rights organisations estimating that over 2,400 people may have lost their lives in the ensuing crackdown.
Obtaining precise figures has proven challenging, as the government has shut down internet access, hindering protesters’ ability to organise and disseminate information.
Nonetheless, there is a sense of optimism both within and outside the country that the rule of the current Ayatollah, Ali Khamenei, may soon come to an end, potentially paving the way for democracy to flourish.
Comedian and actor Omid Djalili shared his thoughts on the revolution with The Times. Born in London to Iranian parents, Omid has long championed the cause of Iranians living under autocratic rule, reports the Mirror.
Omid Djalili (Image: Getty)
In his interview with the publication, Omid, who has featured on BBC‘s Live at the Apollo and at the Royal Variety Performance, spoke poignantly about the moment he discovered that the brother of one of his friends had been killed by Iran’s security forces.
He said that the regime demanded the family pay $5,000 (£3,700) to retrieve the body and to sign a document acknowledging something dreadful.
Omid explained: “They found his body and the regime wanted [them to pay] $5,000 and to sign a declaration that he was a member of the security forces and was killed by one of the protesters. That’s the kind of sick, dark thing they’re doing.
“The lowest estimate [for the number killed] is 2,000 people. The highest estimate, by Iran International, which had done a full research over two days, is 12,000 people.”
A vehicle burns during protests in Tehran, Iran, on January 8, 2026. (Image: Getty)
Omid added: “I saw a video online of 14, 15-year-old kids who had gone to the protest and were walking home, and the security forces shot them all in the head.
“They were all on the ground, a couple of them were still struggling to be alive, and people were trying to revive them. It’s horrific what they’re doing.”
This marks another occasion on which Omid has spoken out about the turmoil gripping Iran and the authorities’ brutal treatment of citizens in recent times.
During an appearance on LBC with Andrew Marr, he said: “This is a bizarre, lunatic, fundamentalist version of Islam that Muslims try to detach themselves from. I’ve got parents of friends and family in Iran. They come to your house, shoot you in the head, and throw your body in a ditch.
“And then they present the families with an invoice that you have to pay, something like $5,000, to release the body, and part of the invoice includes bullets that they used to kill your loved ones.”
