Iranian officials are claiming that a woman killed during anti-government protests was struck by bullets fired inside her own home and not by security forces outside.

The story of Fereshteh Ahmadi’s death went around the world after heartbreaking images of her young daughter Bavan weeping at her funeral were shared online.

Human rights groups have alleged that Fereshteh was shot dead by security cops during an anti-regime demo in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province on 27th October.

But Nasser Atbati – Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan – said in a statement five days later: “According to the investigations carried out until today, it has been proven that the shots were fired from inside this person’s house, and this has been confirmed by the woman’s family members.”

He added: “According to law enforcement and security authorities, there were no gatherings, riots or police presence in the area of ​​the woman’s house at the time of the incident.”

However, Fereshteh’s brother Ebrahim has rubbished the official version of events, telling anti-regime media: “Fereshteh was shot by the Islamic Republic.”

Ebrahim elaborated: “On Thursday in Mahabad, she was shot by Islamic Republic forces from the roof of the house she was in.”

He added: “There have been reports that there was no gathering there. By the way, there was a big gathering there. Again I deny all claims. My sister was martyred by the Islamic Republic.”

Since protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on 16th September, Iranian officials have been accused of inventing causes of death for protesters allegedly killed by security agents.

Examples of causes of death proffered by the regime include ‘car accidents’, ‘suicides’, ‘falling from a height’, or ‘shooting from the crowd’.

Justice Atbati called the footage of Bavan looking forlorn at her mother’s funeral a “media creation”.

He said a case of ‘intentional murder’ has been filed over Fereshteh’s death and that it is being investigated.