Mohsen Mohammadi

Mohsen Mohammadi (November 25, 1990 – September 28, 2022)

Mohsen Mohammadi was born on November 25, 1990, in Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province, Iran, to Khalifeh Masoud and Rabeeh. He was 32 years old at the time of his death. He had earned a diploma in computer science and worked as a skilled woodworker specializing in MDF interior decoration. As a child, he enjoyed playing the daf, a traditional Kurdish frame drum. Friends and relatives remembered him as a kind, respectful, and cheerful young man who loved bringing happiness to those around him. His dream was simple: to build a stable life through honest work and start a family.
Everything changed in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. Deeply affected by the events, Mohsen joined the growing protests that spread across Iran. During those early days of the nationwide uprising, he expressed a hope that would later become closely associated with his memory:

"I just want to see our people free from this government, even if it's only for one day."

He also said that the Kurdish people would never forget Mahsa Amini's death and that their demand for justice would not fade with time.
On September 28, 2022, two days after Mahsa Amini's funeral, large demonstrations took place in Divandarreh as part of the nationwide "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. Mohsen participated in the protests alongside many other residents.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports published by Kurdish media, security forces opened fire on demonstrators using live ammunition. During the shooting, Mohsen Mohammadi and another protester, Fouad Ghadimi, were struck by gunfire. Mohsen sustained a gunshot wound to his liver and was taken to Divandarreh Hospital.
According to a source cited by the Kurdish news outlet Kurdpa, Mohsen remained at Divandarreh Hospital from approximately 11:00 a.m. until around 5:00 p.m. The report states that he received blood transfusions but no further effective medical treatment before dying later that afternoon.
The same source alleges that Mohsen's family was initially told he was still alive and was being transferred to a hospital in Sanandaj for treatment. It further claims that intelligence personnel accompanied the ambulance and did not allow a physician to travel with him. When his family arrived in Sanandaj, they were informed that Mohsen had already died and that his body had been transferred to Behesht-e Mohammadi Cemetery.
According to these reports, authorities intended to bury him quietly during the night in an effort to prevent further protests in Divandarreh. His family, however, located his body after persistent efforts and ensured that he received a proper burial attended by relatives, friends, and members of the local community.
The following day, Fouad Ghadimi, who had been wounded in the same incident, also died from his injuries.
Despite reported pressure and threats to hold only a small and quiet funeral ceremony, Mohsen's family proceeded with memorial gatherings, where many residents came together to honor his memory and renew their commitment to the ideals for which the victims had protested.
Kurdpa also reported that during the fortieth-day memorial ceremony for Mohsen, clashes occurred between protesters and security forces after mourners left the cemetery. According to the report, security forces used tear gas and shotgun pellets to disperse the crowd.
The same source further reported that, several days after Mohsen's death, security officials allegedly offered his family financial compensation and proposed registering him with Iran's Foundation of Martyrs. According to the report, the family rejected the offer, stating that they sought accountability for those responsible for their son's death rather than financial compensation.
To honor Mohsen's memory, his elderly parents later prepared and distributed charitable meals to people in need. Each package reportedly bore his photograph, turning an act of remembrance into an expression of love, dignity, and solidarity.
During the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising, Divandarreh became one of the cities that witnessed significant anti-government protests. Several residents were killed or injured during the demonstrations. Mohsen Mohammadi, Fouad Ghadimi, Habibollah Fathi, and Fouad Savari were among the protesters from Divandarreh who lost their lives.
Today, Mohsen Mohammadi is remembered not only for how he died, but also for the hope he expressed while he was alive—a hope captured in the words that continue to symbolize his legacy: