A former cosmetics sales worker from Iran has described her journey into political activism after her 16-year-old daughter, Sevda, was fatally shot during mass street demonstrations on the outskirts of Tehran on January 9.
Samira said she and her daughter took part in large protests that began over economic discontent before expanding into calls for an end to Iran’s Islamic Republic. According to Samira, a shoot-to-kill order was implemented by authorities as demonstrations grew, resulting in a sniper firing from a rooftop and striking her daughter in the heart.
Morgue Search and Pressures from Authorities
Following the shooting, Samira transported her daughter to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She spent days searching for the body before locating Sevda beneath other deceased individuals in a major Tehran morgue. Human rights organisation Hrana estimates that more than 7,000 people were killed during the crackdown, while Iranian officials state the death toll exceeds 3,000 and includes security personnel.
Samira stated that Iranian authorities compelled her to sign statements blaming foreign terrorists for her daughter’s death before releasing the body. She reported being barred from visiting the grave or erecting a tombstone, and claimed intelligence officials later offered housing and financial incentives if she publicly stated Sevda was a security volunteer killed by protesters.
Escape and Ongoing Activism from Abroad
Refusing the offer, Samira escaped Iran on foot across mountainous border terrain. After moving abroad into hiding, she began publishing the identities of security personnel and officials she believes were involved in the fatal shootings during the January demonstrations.
Iranian authorities subsequently charged Samira in absentia with offences including moharebeh, or waging war against God, a charge that carries the potential for capital punishment. Family members remaining in Iran have reportedly faced arrests and threats that Sevda’s body would be exhumed if grave gatherings continue.
Addressing the allegations, the Iranian embassy in London stated that legitimate demonstrations were manipulated by foreign powers, including the US, which it accused of providing weapons and compromising public safety.
Source: BBC News
