Iran Human Rights
Islamic Republic of Iran systematically targeted protester eyes in nationwide protest.
Considering the volume of reports of protesters being shot in the head and face by security forces in most Iranian cities, leading to many, including a significant number of young women, being blinded, Iran Human Rights considers the inhumane and unlawful act to have been systematically carried out by the Islamic Republic to crush protests. Iran Human Rights calls on citizens in Iran to send any information about anyone who has lost their sight at the hands of security forces to assist in documenting the evidence and holding the perpetrators accountable. Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Exposing the magnitude of the crimes and documenting evidence are crucial steps towards justice that require all citizens' cooperation. Islamic Republic leader, Ali Khamenei and the repressive forces under his command must know that they will be held accountable for all their crimes.” Click here for more information.
List of protesters blinded
In the past months, Iran Human Rights researchers have collected and verified information related to a number of citizens who have lost their sight in one or both eyes as a result of being shot with shotguns or paintball guns in the nationwide protests. The following list is of cases Iran Human Rights have been able to independently verify; the real number is much higher.
The New York Times previously reported that hundreds of protesters were targeted from close range, with their eyes damaged or blinded. According to this report, doctors in three Tehran hospitals (Farabi, Rasoul Akram and Labafinejad) treated more than 500 protesters with eye injuries during the nationwide protests. In Kurdistan province, at least 80 people with eye injuries were treated by doctors. Meanwhile, police chief Hassan Karami denied protesters were targeted in sensitive parts of their bodies, calling their actions “professional."
The following list compiled by Iran Human Rights will be expanded with the help of citizen journalists and made available to international organisations and the UN fact-finding mission. Viewer discretion is advised in viewing some of the photographs.
1. Raheleh Amiri, Kerman
A 30-year-old psychologist, Raheleh was shot with pellet bullets by security forces in late November; she was blinded in one eye.
2. Elaheh Tavakolian, Mashhad
A PhD student in business management, Elaheh was blinded in one eye by pellet bullets fired by security forces in October.
3. Niloufar Aghayi, Tehran
Teacher and midwifery Master’s student blinded in one eye after being shot at the doctors’ protest outside the Medical Council in Tehran in.
4. Kimia Zand, Tehran
Shot in the eye by paintball guns on October 26, her right eye was seriously injured. She has regained some sight after several operations.
5. Mohadeseh (Ghazal) Ranjkesh, Bandar Abbas
21-year-old law student, she was shot with pellet bullets, losing sight in one eye.
6. Farideh Salavatipour, Sanandaj
Shot with pellet bullets on November 17, she was blinded in one eye.
7. Yasser Alvandiani, Hamedan
A 34-year-old athlete, he was blinded after being shot at protests.
8. Ali Mohammadi, Hamedan
At 22 years old, he was blinded in one eye after being shot at protest on September 21.
9. Kowsar Eftekhari, Tehran
A Tabriz native, she was shot at a student protest in Tehran on October 12, blinding her in one eye.
10. Hossein Abedini, Tehran
A 20-year-old model, he was shot at a protest in Tehran on September 21. He was blinded in one eye and sustained injuries in the other.
11. Behzad Hamrahi, Tehran
43-year-old Hossein was blinded in the left eye after being shot at protest on November 15.
12. Hossein Hosseinpour, Mahabad
At 25, he was blinded in the left eye after being shot at a protest on November 17.
13. Kowsar (Mahbanu) Khoshnoudikia, Kermanshah
An archery champion and silver medal winner at the 2021 Asian Archery Championship Games, she was shot and blinded in one eye on December 9.
14. Parviz Yari, Kermanshah
He was blinded in one eye after being shot at the Dareh Vijeh protest.
15. Hossein Nouri, Tehran
A 25-year-old nurse, he was blinded in one eye after being shot at a protest on Valiasr Street in Tehran in September.
16. Sadegh Soufi, Bukan
A 27-year-old physical education post-graduate student, he was blinded in the left eye at the 40th day ceremony of Mahsa (JIna) Amini on November 25.
17. Hossein Bagherpour, Kerman
24-year-old mechanic, Hossein was blinded in one eye at a protest on Valafajr Street on November 15.
18. Nachirvan Maroufi, Saqqez
An 18-year-old conscript, Nachirvan was on leave when he was shot at a protest in Saqqez in September.
19. Bonita Kiani Falavarjani, Isfahan
At 6 years old, Bonita was shot and blinded in one eye while standing on her grandfather’s balcony in Malek Shahr in Isfahan.
20. Firouz Mirani, Paveh
An artist, Firouz was blinded in both eyes after being shot by pellet bullets on November 30.
21. Parsa Ghobadi, Kamyaran
18 years old and from the village of Shahini, he was blinded in both eyes after being shot by pellet bullets on November 21.
22. Ali Mohammad Rezaei, Abdanan
He was blinded in one eye after being shot by pellet bullets outside his house on November 18.
