Sixteen-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh was a bright student at Farzanegan School in Mehrshahr, Karaj.
Her promising life ended tragically on September 21, 2022, when she was fatally beaten by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) security forces during the nationwide protests in Karaj, Iran.
Esmailzadeh lived with her ill mother and older brother, following the death of their father in 2013. Known for her strong views on personal freedom and social justice, Esmailzadeh often used social media platforms, including Telegram and YouTube, to voice her concerns about the state of affairs in Iran.
In one poignant video, she questioned the discrepancy between the lives of Iranian teenagers and their global counterparts. She asserted, “We’re not like the previous generation who didn’t know life outside Iran… what do we lack that our concerns in life are so different?”
She had been partaking in the demonstration when IRGC security forces subjected her to multiple severe baton blows on the head, leading to her untimely demise.
Esmailzadeh’s fatal attack occurred in broad daylight during a protest rally near her school, following the brutal killing of fellow protester, Mahsa Amini.
Her family remained unaware of her tragic fate until late in the evening when her friends informed them. Initial reports suggested that her body had been taken to a local hospital, but the hospital denied any knowledge of her whereabouts.
Two days after her death, security forces directed Esmailzadeh’s family to a cemetery to receive her body. The family were forbidden from notifying friends or relatives and were compelled to conduct the funeral in solitude. The extent of Esmailzadeh’s injuries was revealed when her family identified her shattered forehead.
Following the burial, the Alborz Judiciary head, Hossein Fazeli Harikandi, falsely claimed that Esmailzadeh committed suicide by jumping off a roof. Esmailzadeh’s family was pressured into echoing this narrative, threatened with the potential kidnapping of Esmailzadeh’s brother.
Esmailzadeh’s death led to widespread shock and indignation among her classmates and wider community. On the fortieth day after her death, a commemorative ceremony was held by her classmates. In a silent act of rebellion, they replaced a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, with Esmailzadeh’s portrait.
A classmate aptly wrote, “Spring is coming. We can hear it! Runty Seyyed Ali, even if you kill us… what are you going to do with the inevitable sprouts?”
Esmailzadeh’s death serves as a chilling reminder of the oppressive regime in Iran, highlighting the desperate need for change and reform. Her memory continues to inspire countless Iranian youth to strive for their fundamental rights and freedom.
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