'He was the bravest' Tributes as confirmed toll passes 2,500

The families of Iranians killed by the regime in its crackdown on anti-government protests over the past week have told the Guardian of their devastation on learning of their relatives' deaths.

- Deepa Parent

They were forced to bury her along the road, digging the ground themselves to bury their child

More than 2,500 people have been confirmed killed, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. But the death toll is expected to rise substantially as the regime eases a communications blackout imposed on 8 January.

Iran has one of the largest diasporas in the world, many of whom fled the country after the revolution in 1979, and at least half a million live in Europe. But with the internet shut down, relatives based overseas have been slow to discover the fate of family members.

Hali Norei, 40, said she fell to her knees when she received a call telling her that her 23-year-old niece, Robina Aminian, had been killed by a shot to the head from behind after joining university friends at a protest in Tehran on 8 January.

The news came only after relatives in Iran travelled to the Iraqi border for an internet connection to call abroad. “It’s a tragedy for my family,” said Norei. “I don’t know what I can do for them, but I want to be Robina’s voice and don’t want this regime to silence the voices of our children.”

Norei said her family in Iran had gone to Tehran to identify Aminian and had seen “hundreds of bodies of young people shot and killed”.

She said they were forced to take Aminian’s body surreptitiously after the authorities refused permission to take her home. “Amene [Aminian’s mother], who is one of the bravest members of our family, wailed loudly, but was determined to bring her baby home,” Norei said. “She picked her up in her arms and was forced to steal her own child’s body; she drove back home with her on her lap.”