A mother whose teenage daughter was allegedly shot dead by Iranian security forces during anti-government protests has vowed to pursue justice and identify those she believes were responsible for the killing.
Samira, who previously worked in cosmetics sales in Iran, told BBC Panorama that her life changed dramatically after her only child, 16-year-old Sevda, was killed during demonstrations against Iran’s government.
According to her account, the teenager was participating in protests on January 9 when security forces opened fire. Samira said she witnessed her daughter being shot.
She added that her suffering increased when authorities allegedly obstructed her efforts to locate her daughter’s body.
“I realised that finding Sevda wasn’t the end, but just the beginning of all the harassment they put me through,” she said.
Mother turns grief into campaign for justice
Samira now lives abroad in hiding and describes herself as a “one-woman army fighting the regime”.
She says she is determined to identify security personnel and officials she believes were involved in the fatal shooting of protesters, including her daughter.
Reflecting on the risks, she told the BBC that she had no intention of returning to her previous life.
“Return to normal life? There is no going back,” she said.
Teenager inspired by previous Iranian protesters
Samira explained that although she had not previously considered herself politically active, her daughter had developed a strong interest in resistance movements involving Iranian women.
Sevda reportedly admired Mahsa Amini, whose death in custody in 2022 sparked widespread protests, and Nika Shakarami, a teenager who died during the subsequent demonstrations.
According to her mother, Sevda wanted to continue the path of resistance associated with the two young women.
Iranian government rejects allegations of foreign interference
The BBC said it had also spoken to other Iranians, including people still living inside the country who wanted to share their experiences despite the risks.
Iran’s embassy in London told Panorama that peaceful and legitimate protests had been hijacked by foreign powers, including the United States, which it accused of promoting violence and compromising public security.
The competing accounts highlight the continuing dispute over the protests, the government’s response and demands for accountability over deaths reported during the demonstrations.
