A spirit that did not back down, despite the risks
Sadaf Movahedi was born on December 28, 2003. She was the only child in her family and lived in west Tehran.
Sadaf attended 22 Bahman High School in the Jannat Abad neighborhood of Tehran, a district in the western part of the capital. She initially studied graphic design but later switched to humanities. She was passing her final year of high school.
During the nationwide protests of 2022, Sadaf Movahedi played an active role in leading her schoolmates in demonstrations. The protests were part of a broader uprising against the Iranian regime, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, and were especially powerful among young women and students.
On Monday, October 17, 2022, after school ended, Sadaf was on her way home when security forces attacked her in an alley. She was beaten with batons, suffering severe head injuries that caused fatal brain trauma.
Due to pressure and threats from the security forces, Sadaf Movahedi’s family was forced to publicly state that her death was caused by a “heart attack.”
Two days later, on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, she was laid to rest in Behesht Zahra Cemetery, Tehran’s largest burial ground.
The tragedy of Sadaf Movahedi’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of the price Iranian women are paying for their pursuit of freedom. Her courage, leadership, and dedication to her fellow students reflect a spirit that would not back down, despite the risks.
