Mass demonstrations initially sparked by economic distress quickly expanded into widespread calls to dismantle the Islamic Republic, prompting authorities to deploy sniper fire and heavy security against participants. Sixteen-year-old Sevda was shot dead from a rooftop while leading chants during a protest called by exiled figure Reza Pahlavi. Samira escaped the country on foot and is now gathering evidence to expose the specific officers who carried out the fatal shootings. Meanwhile, Iranian officials claim the demonstrations were weaponized and compromised by hostile foreign adversaries, including the United States.
Key points
Bereaved families are confronting severe state harassment while attempting to identify th…: Bereaved families are confronting severe state harassment while attempting to identify the specific personnel executing lethal orders.
Iranian authorities maintain that domestic economic protests were co-opted and weaponized…: Iranian authorities maintain that domestic economic protests were co-opted and weaponized by foreign nations to violently undermine state security.
Heavy crackdowns by the regime successfully suppressed mass demonstrations despite extern…: Heavy crackdowns by the regime successfully suppressed mass demonstrations despite external warnings from foreign leaders regarding violence against civilians.
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Samira says she never used to be political.
"I worked in sales in Iran. I sold cosmetics," she tells BBC Panorama.
But that all changed the day her only child was shot dead in front of her by Iranian security forces. Sixteen-year-old Sevda was taking part in protests against Iran's repressive regime that engulfed the country earlier this year - before the US and Israel launched widespread air strikes which killed the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Samira's grief became fury as Iran's authorities then hindered, rather than helped, her search for her daughter's body, she says.
"I realised that finding Sevda wasn't the end, but just the beginning of all the harassment they put me through."
Samira made a dramatic escape from Iran on foot, navigating dangerous mountainous terrain.
She now lives abroad in hiding, describing herself as a "one-woman army fighting the regime". In a search for accountability and justice after her daughter's death, she is intent on naming the members of the security forces and officials she believes…
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