Eye injuries of Iranian protesters symbolize government’s brutal crackdown
Milan, Italy (CNN) – Elahe Tavakolian stood among a crowd of protesters, chanting “death to the dictator,” when she saw a police officer aiming his gun at her. In that terrifying moment, Tavakolian moved to protect her children and sister, only to receive a gunshot wound to her eye.
This incident occurred on September 21, 2022, shortly after the death of Mahsa Jhina Amini, who died while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Tavakolian’s injury captured the brutality of the regime’s response to dissent, as protests erupted across the country in the following weeks.
“I had lots of discontent even before what happened to Mahsa. The corruption, the compulsory hijab, the dictatorship. There are a lot of problems in Iran,” Tavakolian explained, highlighting the reasons behind her participation in the protests. “The poverty is unbearable. People can’t afford to live.”
Tavakolian’s gunshot injury is just one example of the hundreds of eye injuries sustained by protesters during the demonstrations. Amnesty International reported that the number of eye injuries exceeded 300, while Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimated the death toll at over 500, including 70 children.
Protesters with eye injuries post pictures of themselves with a white heart covering their injured eye on social media, turning Tavakolian’s experience into a symbol of resistance. Activists allege that the targeting of eyes was a deliberate government strategy to punish protesters. IranWire, an activist media group, documented at least 580 cases of eye injuries resulting from shootings with pellets, tear gas canisters, paintball bullets, and other projectiles.
In response to the surge in eye injuries, more than 100 Iranian ophthalmologists sent a public letter to the government, warning about the irreparable consequences of such severe injuries. However, the authorities have dismissed these claims, even accusing those who claimed eye injuries as liars.
After being denied treatment and facing persecution from the intelligence ministry, Tavakolian decided to leave Iran in March to seek treatment in Milan, Italy. She underwent surgery to remove her right eye and fits herself with a prosthetic one. However, her greatest fear remains whether she will ever see her children again.
Despite the challenges she faces in rebuilding her life, Tavakolian remains determined to be a voice for those still struggling under the oppressive regime in Iran. Her hope is that peace will one day return to her country, allowing her to return home and be reunited with her loved ones.
While the protests in Iran have subsided for now, the movements that started with women burning their headscarves continue to leave traces of resistance throughout the country. Women can be seen walking through streets, promoting gender equality and demanding change.