Mohammad (Saeed) Anoushnia

Mohammad (Saeed) Anoushnia (July 8, 1991 – October 15, 2022)

Mohammad (Saeed) Anoushnia, a 31-year-old man from Rasht, was living through the tense days of Mehr 1401 (October 2022), when Iran was experiencing widespread protests and social unrest. He worked in the Rasht Taxi Inspection Department and, according to his family and those close to him, was serving a prison sentence in Lakan Prison in Rasht due to a financial case and debt. It was said that only one week remained until his release, and he was expected to leave prison by the end of that same week — a moment of hope that both he and his family had been waiting for.
On the afternoon of October 9, 2022, amid the unrest and clashes inside Lakan Prison in Rasht, the situation rapidly changed. According to published accounts, confrontations broke out inside the prison, and some inmates protested the treatment of detainees. Mohammad was reportedly among those who objected to what was happening.
As tensions escalated, the atmosphere inside the prison became increasingly chaotic. Reports indicated the use of tear gas, followed by direct gunfire toward prisoners. According to accounts from his family, relatives, and published sources, Mohammad Anoushnia was struck by gunfire during these events and lost his life. Different reports have been published regarding the number and location of the bullets that struck him, but people close to him stated that signs of bullet wounds were visible on his back.
The grief of Mohammad’s family did not end with the news of his death. According to his mother, his body was not returned to the family, and authorities carried out the burial procedures themselves. The family was only allowed to see his face one last time to say goodbye. They were also reportedly denied permission to hold a public funeral ceremony.
Mohammad was a young man who was only days away from returning home — only days away from seeing his mother and family again and beginning a new chapter of life. But that short distance was never crossed. From that day on, his name became associated with other victims of the events at Lakan Prison and the incidents of October 2022, while his memory continues to live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved him.