Minoo Majidi
killed by Iranian authorities
Minoo Majidi was shot and killed by Iranian security forces while protesting in the city of Kermanshah on 20 September 2022. She was among the many demonstrators targeted by state forces during the nationwide protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s Morality Police
Biography
Minoo Majidi (1960 – 20 September 2022) was an Iranian woman of Kurdish ethnicity who was killed by Iranian security forces during the September 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. Born into a Yarsan family in Qasr-e Shirin, she later lived in Kermanshah with her husband and three children. She was fatally shot while protesting against the Iranian regime. Her funeral on 22 September turned into an anti-government demonstration, with women removing their hijabs in defiance. A powerful image of her daughter standing by her grave, holding her own shaved hair, became a symbol of Iranian women's resistance.
Early Life and Background
Minoo Majidi was born in 1960 into a Yarsan family in Qasr-e Shirin, a city in western Iran near the Iraqi border. The Yarsan, also known as Ahl-e Haqq, is a Kurdish religious minority with a history of facing discrimination in Iran. Majidi later moved to Kermanshah, where she lived with her husband and three children. She was known for her deep ties to her community and her resilience in the face of political and social challenges in Iran.
Death and Role in the 2022 Iranian Protests
On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in custody after being arrested by Iran’s Morality Police for allegedly violating the country’s strict hijab laws. Her death ignited a nationwide uprising against the Iranian regime, with women leading the protests, chanting "Woman, Life, Freedom", and removing their hijabs as a sign of defiance.
Minoo Majidi joined the protests in Kermanshah, standing alongside thousands of others who demanded justice and an end to state oppression. On 20 September 2022, she was shot and killed by security forces. Her death became one of many tragedies that fueled further demonstrations.
Burial and Its Impact
Majidi's funeral was held on 22 September 2022 at the Mina Abad Cemetery in Kermanshah. The ceremony quickly turned into a protest, with attendees openly defying the regime. Many women removed their hijabs, chanting slogans against the government and expressing their grief through acts of rebellion. The phrase "Woman, Life, Freedom" echoed throughout the crowd, signifying a collective demand for justice and equality.
A Symbol of Resistance
A few days after Majidi’s burial, a striking image of her daughter standing by her grave went viral. In the photo, Majidi’s daughter had shaved her head, holding her own hair in her hands while staring fiercely at the camera. This act symbolized defiance, mourning, and resistance against the Iranian regime’s oppression of women. The image quickly spread across social media, being hailed as a new symbol of Iranian women’s fight for freedom. International news outlets, including Corriere della Sera, recognized the moment as a powerful representation of the ongoing struggle against state-imposed restrictions on women’s rights in Iran.
Minoo Majidi's name remains among those remembered in the global movement for women's rights and freedom in Iran. Her sacrifice continues to inspire protests, advocacy, and solidarity around the world.
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
Following Minoo Majidi’s killing, her family, especially her daughter, became vocal symbols of grief and resistance. Her daughter’s act of shaving her head and standing at her mother’s grave holding her cut hair was a silent but powerful plea for justice. This image resonated globally, symbolizing the pain of families who lost loved ones to the Iranian regime’s violent crackdown.
While there are no widely reported public statements from Majidi’s husband or other children, the actions of her daughter and the protests at her funeral reflected the family's demands for accountability and justice. The family’s grief was shared by the broader Iranian protest movement, which called for an end to government repression and gender-based discrimination.
Sources & References
Minoo Majidi, a Kurdish Iranian woman, was born in 1960 into a Yarsan family in **Qasr-e Shirin**. She later settled in **Kermanshah**, where she lived with her husband and three children.1 en.wikipedia.org Open source