An Iranian woman who witnessed the violent suppression of protests in Isfahan has described how her neighbourhood turned into a “war zone” as security forces opened fire on crowds with live ammunition. Parnia, who was visiting family in the central Iranian city when the protests erupted, said she saw people being shot and falling to the ground, with blood on the streets.
The protests, sparked by anger over the collapse of the Iranian currency, quickly spread across the country, with hundreds gathering in the Hakim Nezami and Khaghani neighbourhoods of Isfahan. Parnia recounted how the security forces first fired tear gas at the protesters, then formed a line and opened fire with birdshot. “I saw people getting shot and falling down, and I saw blood on the street,” she said.
Parnia managed to escape down an alleyway and was pulled into an apartment block by a woman, where she saw many injured protesters. “I saw the lobby floor covered in blood, and I saw a girl whose leg was full of pellets,” she said.
Despite the risks, Parnia went out to protest again on the following Friday. She said the protesters were “hopeful” but also afraid, as they tried to avoid the security forces. “We thought even if we get killed, it would be a reason for Trump to act faster,” she said.
The government-imposed internet blackout in Iran has prevented many accounts of the crackdown from reaching the wider world. However, some Iranians who have left the country, like Parnia, have been able to share their experiences.
Parnia said she learned from a source that doctors at Feiz eye hospital in Isfahan had carried out around 300 surgical procedures to remove the eyes of patients with birdshot-related facial injuries. “Every time you go out into the street, you see random people with eye patches,” her friends told her.
According to several health workers who spoke to the BBC, hospitals in Isfahan are being monitored and controlled by security forces, and people with gunshot wounds are being arrested. Many of the injured are also developing infections, with some being referred to private clinics for treatment.
While the Iranian authorities have claimed around 3,000 people were killed during the protests, human rights groups have confirmed more than 4,600 deaths, with another 9,700 cases still under review. Parnia said she is now preparing to join Iranian opposition protests in the UK, determined to be a voice for the silenced protesters.
