Nadia Arefani

Nadia Arefani (October 9, 1999 – October 9, 2022)

Nadia Arefani, a 23-year-old woman from Karaj, worked alongside her family in a small grocery business. Following the start of nationwide protests in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, she was present in demonstrations in Karaj from the earliest days.
Together with a group of friends, Nadia helped organize a small network of young women involved in writing slogans, distributing leaflets, and spreading information about upcoming protests. She believed that freedom and justice could only be achieved through public presence and resistance, and she played an active role in the protests.
During the nationwide uprising in Karaj and Fardis, Nadia was severely injured by direct gunfire from security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with wounds to her abdomen and kidneys. After a period of suffering from her injuries, she eventually died as a result of their severity.
Following her death, security forces initially denied the news of her killing and labeled reports about it as fabrication or “fake news.” Her body remained in the morgue for more than two weeks, and her family faced significant restrictions and pressure in receiving it.
Eventually, on the day of her burial, Nadia’s funeral became a scene of protest and solidarity among mourners. Friends, relatives, and participants in the ceremony honored her memory by chanting protest slogans and expressing their opposition to the repression of demonstrators. The event also intensified public scrutiny and doubt toward the official narrative surrounding her death.
The name Nadia Arefani remains among those who lost their lives during the 2022 protests—a young woman who took part in civic resistance and lost her life in the course of those events.