Sara Shoghi

Asra – Asra Panahi was a 15-year-old schoolgirl who died in Ardabil, a city in the northwest of Iran. She was one of several students who were beaten by security forces during a raid on her school, when they refused to sing an anthem praising the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. She died later in hospital from her injuries, on October 13, 2022.

Berlin – The Iranian protest in Berlin, held on October 22, 2022, showcased a largest demonstration of solidarity in response to ongoing protests in Iran. With a turnout of approximately 80,000 demonstrators, this gathering represented a significant milestone, as it stood as the largest demonstration ever organized by the Iranian diaspora.

Fatemeh-Sepehri – Fatemeh Sepehri, a prominent political activist imprisoned in Iran, was arrested on September 21, 2022, during nationwide protests following the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini's death. She criticized state religious policies and government mandates, receiving an 18-year prison sentence on charges like propaganda against the regime,insulting Khomeini and Khamenei, and colluding against national security. In 2019, she was among 14 signatories of a letter seeking Khamenei's resignation and the establishment of a secular government.

Hadis Najafi – Hadis Najafi, a 23-year-old Iranian, was shot dead by at least 20 bullets fired by Iranian security forces in Mehrshahr, Karaj, on September 21, 2022. This came after the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini. Najafi's body was released to her family on September 23. The family spoke of government pressure to declare a heart attack as the cause of death. On November 3, forty days after her passing, mourners aimed to attend the Chehelom gathering (held on the 40th day after death) at Beheshte Sakineh cemetery, but witnesses reported government forces blocking access.

Hossein Ronaghi – Hossein Ronaghi, an Iranian activist and political prisoner, actively participated in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, enduring arrest and hunger strikes to protest prison conditions and torture. Despite facing pressure and harassment, he continues to advocate for justice and freedom. Images of his parents, wrapped in blankets, seeking information about their son's health outside Evin prison, went viral on social media.

Ghazaleh – Ghazaleh Chalabi, an Iranian mountaineer and athlete, was fatally shot in the head by the Revolutionary Guards in Amol on September 21, 2022. Her death was notable because footage of the protests, which she was recording on her phone at the time she was shot, was saved and widely circulated on social media and news outlets. Her final words were, "Do not be afraid, do not be afraid."

Mehrshad-Shahidi – Mehrshad Shahidinejad was a young chef from the city of Arak, Markazi Province of Iran. He gained recognition for his artistic cooking videos on Instagram. He was tragically beaten to death by the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guard on October 25, 2022, after participating in a protest in response to the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini. He passed away at the age of 19, just a day before his 20th birthday.

Mohammad-Rakhshani – Mohammad Rakhshani, a 12-year-old student, was fatally shot in the head by Iran's security forces on September 30, 2022 in Sistan-Baluchistan, during what is known as Zahedan's Bloody Friday.

Khodanour – Khodanour Lojei, a 27-year-old Baluchi protester from the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan was killed during the Zahedan massacre on September 30, 2022. A photograph circulated widely, showing him with his hands tied to a flagpole while a cup of water sat out of his reach. The Iranian authorities posted this image online with the intention to further humiliate him.

Mahsa-Amini – Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman from the northwestern city of Saqqez, hailed from Kurdistan, Iran. She was arrested by the Morality Police on the accusation of not wearing the “proper” hijab, She ultimately lost her life due to torture while in police custody. Amini's death sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, originating in Saqqez and Kurdistan before spreading across Iran and beyond. The movement's rallying cry, "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî," meaning "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish (and was also translated as “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” into Persian), has become a symbol in the fight for justice and liberation.

Niloufar-Hamedi – Niloufar Hamedi is an Iranian journalist known for her reporting on Mahsa Jina Amini's death and her treatment by Iran's Morality Police. She was arrested following the killing of Amini by the Morality Police. Hamedi has been awarded several international press freedom honors. She has been convicted by the Revolutionary Court on charges of "collaboration with a hostile government (the United States)," "conspiracy and collusion against national security," and "anti-government propaganda activities." She will be imprisoned for a total of seven years and has been banned from participating in political parties, groups, virtual activities, media, and the press for a period of two years following imprisonment.

Mona – Mona Naghib, an eight-year-old Baluch girl, lived in Aspic, a village near the city of Saravan in southeastern Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan region. On October 23, 2022, she was shot in the head by the Islamic Republic's security forces while on her way to school. Her sister carried her to the hospital, but it was too late, and Mona passed away in her arms. This incident occurred during the unrest that erupted following the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini in Zahedan.

Nik-Yousefi – Nik Yousefi is an Iranian filmmaker and photographer based in Tehran. He is known for his short films and music videos that are critical of Iran's political and social landscape, while supporting the freedom of the Iranian people. Yousefi was arrested by security forces on October 16, 2022, for creating a video, titled “Woman, Life, Freedom,” in solidarity with Iranian protesters. This video was made to support the Iranian protests that followed the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini and gained attention on social media.

Toomaj – Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian hip hop artist, is well-known for his protest songs that focus on Iran's societal issues and critique the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to him, his day job is as a laborer at a metalworking factory. On September 12, 2021, he was arrested and charged with "propaganda against the regime" and "insulting the supreme leadership authority," leading to a six-month jail term and a fine. In 2022, during nationwide protests following the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini, Salehi was arrested again and was sentenced to six years and three months in prison. He faced charges including “propagandistic activity against the government, cooperation with hostile governments, and forming illegal groups with the intention of creating insecurity in the country." The news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps labeled him as "a key figure in the protests who encouraged violence." Since his latest arrest, he has been enduring solitary confinement and reported experiencing severe torture while in prison.

Sarina – Sarina Esmailzadeh was a 16-year-old Iranian girl from Karaj, Alborz province, who died on September 21, 2022, after allegedly being beaten on the head by security forces with batons and bleeding to death during the nationwide protest in response to the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini. Sarina was also a YouTuber who created videos discussing topics such as music, food, school, and restrictions on women in Iran.