About

Sarina Esmaeilzadeh, born on July 2, 2006 (Tir 11, 1385), was a bright 16-year-old student at the Farzanegan School in Mehrshahr, Karaj. Her life was tragically cut short on September 21, 2022 (Shahrivar 30, 1401) during the nationwide protests in Karaj, where she fell victim to the brutal beatings inflicted by security forces.

Living with her mother and older brother, Sarina faced the challenges of life with resilience. Her mother had been battling a brain tumor, adding to the weight of responsibility on young Sarina’s shoulders. Tragically, Sarina had lost her father at the tender age of 7, and her brother, Aref Esmaeilzadeh, passed away in 2013.

Sarina’s activism and compassionate spirit were evident in her outspoken opposition to mandatory hijab laws and her solidarity with the social struggles faced by the people of Iran. Through her YouTube channel, she voiced the concerns of Iranian youth, challenging societal norms and advocating for freedom.

In a poignant post on her Telegram channel (@sarinaez) the day before her death, Sarina wrote, “My homeland smells of estrangement.” This sentiment reflects the profound sense of alienation and injustice that she felt towards the state of affairs in Iran.

On the fateful day of her death, Sarina joined her friends after language class to participate in the protests supporting the people’s demands. It was there that security forces subjected her to brutal beatings, causing severe head injuries that led to her untimely demise.

Despite efforts by her friends to transport her to a nearby house for medical attention, Sarina succumbed to her injuries on the spot. Her friends, devastated by the loss, informed her family of the tragic incident, who were unaware of her critical condition until then.

Following her death, authorities attempted to fabricate a narrative, claiming that Sarina had committed suicide by jumping from a neighbor’s rooftop. However, witnesses and acquaintances refuted these claims, pointing to the presence of security personnel at her grandmother’s house on the day of the incident.

Sarina’s burial, carried out under strict surveillance by security forces, further underscored the oppressive environment in which her family was forced to mourn her loss. Despite attempts to silence her voice, Sarina’s classmates paid tribute to her memory by commemorating her 40th day after her passing, replacing images of Ayatollah Khamenei with images of Sarina in their classrooms.

In the wake of her tragic death, Sarina Esmaeilzadeh’s legacy lives on as a symbol of courage, defiance, and resilience in the face of oppression. Her unwavering commitment to justice and freedom continues to inspire countless individuals to stand up against tyranny and fight for a better future.