A Life Lost in Pursuit of Freedom
Nasim Sedghi was born on September 19, 1998, in the small city of Shahin Dezh, located in West Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran. She was a 23-year-old student at the University of Urmia, also in West Azerbaijan. After completing her university studies, Nasim began attending beauty classes in Urmia, showing her determination to shape a future of her own making.
On October 31, 2022, amid a wave of nationwide protests, Nasim Sedghi joined a demonstration in Urmia. These protests, which spread across every major city and town in Iran, called for basic freedoms and justice and were marked by bravery and resilience against the backdrop of intense government repression.
While participating in the protest, Nasim Sedghi was struck down by security forces, who shot her in the forehead and chest, killing her instantly. Tragically, Nasim’s life was cut short for the simple reason that she yearned for freedom.
Following her death, security officers took her phone and even her earrings, before forcibly seizing her body. Like in so many other cases of protester killings, the Iranian regime pressured Nasim’s family to attribute her death to an “accident” rather than an act of state violence.
Nasim’s burial took place on November 2, 2022, in her hometown of Shahin Dezh. The regime imposed strict security measures during her funeral, an attempt to prevent any gathering or expression of public grief or outrage that could fuel further resistance.
Nasim Sedghi’s story is a poignant reminder of the dreams and aspirations that are routinely crushed by a regime that denies its people the right to live freely. Her courage, her dedication to self-betterment, and her yearning for freedom will not be forgotten.
