Viral Show Season 6 Episode 3: The Story of Mersedeh, 2022 Eye Injury Victim

From Sattarkhan to Los Angeles: Mersedeh’s Narrative in Viral Show Season 6 Episode 3

In the history of Iran’s civil struggles, many names have become synonymous with sacrifice and selflessness. One of these influential figures is Mersedeh a fitness trainer and civil activist who sacrificed the sight in one of her eyes for the cause of Iran’s freedom during the 2022 protests in Tehran’s Sattarkhan neighborhood. In this Viral Show interview from the Alara Entertainment website, we explore her journey from the streets of Tehran to her forced migration to Germany and the United States.

The Beginning: Protesting Compulsory Hijab and the Shooting in Sattarkhan

Even before the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement began, Mersedeh was active on social media. As a fitness coach, she consistently showed her opposition to imposed restrictions by using protest hashtags and posting workout videos without the compulsory hijab. Following the tragic death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini, she decided to take her voice of protest from the digital world to the front lines of the streets.

October 15, 2022: The Night Evin Prison Burned

On the evening of October 15 (23 Mehr), amid shocking reports of a fire at Evin Prison, Mersedeh was present in the Sattarkhan area with her mother and friends. In her account, she describes how plainclothes forces, with masked faces and obscured license plates, suddenly attacked their gathering.

“I saw him point the gun at me… suddenly I heard a bursting sound in my face and felt (eye fluid) running down my cheeks. My image in the car’s rearview mirror looked like something out of a horror movie.”

Mersedeh was severely injured by a direct paintball shot to her eye. The image she shared from the hospital showing her bloodied eye while making a victory (V) sign quickly went viral, turning her into a symbol of resistance.

Healthcare Challenges and Pressure from Security Forces

A harrowing part of Mersedeh’s story involves the state of hospitals during that period. She recalls how some clinics refused to admit the wounded due to security orders. In contrast, courageous medical staff risked their own safety to hide the identities of the injured.

• Secrecy for Safety: In Mersedeh’s medical file, her injury was recorded as “impact by a heavy object” instead of a gunshot to prevent her arrest by intelligence officers stationed at the hospital.
• Farabi Hospital: She underwent several major surgeries in Iran, but the damage was so severe that she completely lost vision in one eye.

Forced Migration and Continued Struggle Abroad

Constant pressure from security forces and a raid on her home in February 2023 forced Mersedeh to leave her homeland. She endured a difficult path through Turkey to Germany and eventually to the United States, seeking medical treatment while continuing to be the voice for her fellow injured activists.

A Badge of Honor

When asked if she regrets participating in the protests, Mersedeh responds with absolute certainty:
“I never regret it. This wound is my badge of honor. While some wear their medals on their shoulders to act against the people of Iran, my badge of honor is on my face, for everyone to see what I have done for my country.”

Analyzing Iran’s Current State and New Uprisings

Looking toward the future with hope, Mersedeh believes that public awareness has reached an irreversible level. She sees the difference in recent uprisings as a “shift in mindset.” To her, the blood shed on the streets is sacred, and she believes the Islamic Republic can no longer extinguish this flame through suppression.

Solidarity and Unity: The Key to Victory

She emphasizes that division is the regime’s primary tool for survival. Mersedeh believes that to move through this era, all Iranians regardless of their political leanings must unite around the goal of a free Iran and avoid tearing down figures working toward a transition from the current system.

Mersedeh’s story is the story of a generation that has paid the highest price to reclaim their fundamental rights. Though she now resides outside the borders of Iran, her heart remains in the streets of her homeland. She has proven that even with one eye, one can see the bright horizons of freedom and continue the fight to reach them.