Nasrin Shahrabi Farahani, a prominent member of the Central Council of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), a former commander in the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), and a longtime member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in London following a period of illness. Her death marks the end of a 47-year commitment to opposing religious extremism and advocating for freedom in Iran.
Early Political Awakening and Underground Resistance
Nasrin Shahrabi was born in Tehran in 1958 and held a bachelor’s degree in Persian literature. She first joined the pro-democracy movement during the 1979 anti-monarchical revolution, eventually dedicating herself full-time to the PMOI following the fall of the Shah.
In the summer of 1981, as the regime intensified its crackdown on political dissent, Shahrabi took on leadership roles within the resistance movement.
She was one of the militia commanders during the heroic demonstration and uprising in Tehran on September 27, 1981, which marked a major public pushback against the newly established clerical rule. During this historic demonstration, for the first time, slogans such as “Death to Khomeini” and “King Sultan Khomeini, your death has arrived” echoed through the streets of Tehran.
Military Leadership and Frontline Operations
In 1985, Nasrin Shahrabi, better known among her comrades as Akram, was deployed to the Iran-Iraq border area via Pakistan to join PMOI operational forces.
Her brother, Hamidreza Shahrabi Farahani, was executed in Tehran’s Evin Prison on May 2, 1987, after enduring extensive torture.
Following the founding of the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), she rose through the ranks to become an NLA commander. She subsequently led units during key engagements, including Operations Shining Sun (Aftab), Forty-Stars (Chelcheraq), Eternal Light (Forough Javidan), and Pearl (Morvarid).
Defending Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty
During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Akram was stationed at Camp Ashraf in Iraq. She played a key operational role during the violent raids on the camp by Iraqi forces aligned with Tehran on July 28–29, 2009, and April 8, 2011. She later relocated with fellow residents to Camp Liberty, where she remained active in the movement’s leadership until the successful relocation of its members abroad.
Tribute from NCRI President-Elect Maryam Rajavi
Following the announcement of her passing, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, released a statement honoring Shahrabi’s legacy:
I offer my deepest condolences on the loss of my dear sister, Nasrin (Akram) Shahrabi, who concluded a 47-year journey of selfless devotion to the liberation of our homeland. She exemplified total dedication to her principles, a steadfast soul whose sacrifice serves as an enduring model for women resisting tyranny.
In an era marked by the systematic suppression of women’s rights and dignity, the courage of women like Nasrin provides a beacon of genuine hope. Her eternal flight coincides with the anniversary of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran; she carried forward the torch of those brave women who stood firm against fundamentalism, leaving behind a legacy of resilience for future generations.
