Mersedeh SHAHINKAR

Mersedeh Shahinkar bravely participated in the protests that erupted following the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini, standing at the forefront of the revolutionary movement from its inception. Witnessing firsthand the brutalities perpetrated by regime forces, Mersedeh confronted tear gas, enduring nausea and headaches on numerous occasions. She evaded the relentless pursuit of regime enforcers, often fleeing for safety.

During the night when Evin Prison was set ablaze, Mersedeh, alongside her mother and friends, found herself in the midst of a demonstration, only to be targeted by masked assailants on motorcycles. Struck in the eye by gunfire, Mersedeh sustained grave injuries, but the quick actions of bystanders spared her from further harm.

Undergoing emergency surgery the following day, and a subsequent operation the following week to address the extensive damage to her eye, Mersedeh endured excruciating pain. Despite her suffering, she courageously shared her ordeal and exposed the regime's atrocities on social media, amplifying the voices of others who had suffered similar fates, garnering international attention.

In retaliation, security forces raided Mersedeh's home on January 24, 2023, seizing electronic devices and personal belongings. Faced with imminent danger, she went into hiding, ceasing her online activities. Constant surveillance forced her to flee Iran with her daughter, seeking refuge in Turkey, where the threat of regime operatives persisted.

Fortunately, through the efforts of The Munich Circle in collaboration with German authorities, Mersedeh and her daughter found sanctuary in Munich.