Sadegh Mahmoudnezhad is one of the protesters who suffered an eye injury during the Women Life Freedom anti-government uprising.

He suffered a severe eye injury from pellet shots fired by military-security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the anti-government protests in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province, on 21 September 2022.

Despite undergoing multiple surgeries in different hospitals, he retains only 20 percent vision in his left eye.

Security forces arrested Mahmoudnezhad without a warrant at his family home in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province, on 3 July 2023 and took him to the Ministry of Intelligence detention centre in the city.

After initial interrogation for several days, the young man was transferred to Naqadeh Prison and temporarily released on 15 July 2023 on bail of 40 billion rials – nearly 80,000 USD.

In December 2023, the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, had sentenced Mahmoudnezhad to five years and six months in prison on charges of “acting against national security” due to his alleged “membership” in a Kurdish opposition party and involvement in “propaganda against the state.”

Additionally, Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Piranshahr sentenced him to three months in prison and 30 lashes on charges of “disturbing public order and peace”.

However, this sentence was later commuted to a fine of 80 million rials – nearly 160 USD – in the appeals court.

On 2 January 2024, Mahmoudnezhad was arrested again after being summoned to the Enforcement of Judgements Office in Piranshahr and was sent to Naqadeh Prison to serve his sentence.

1. Women, Life, Freedom Uprising: Jina Amini (Mahsa Amini), a 21-year-old Kurdish woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was arrested on a street in Tehran on 13 September 2022 by the morality police because of the way she was dressed. Shortly after her arrest, she was transferred to Kasra Hospital in Tehran with head injuries and symptoms of brain death, and passed away three days later on 16 September 2022. The government’s killing of Jina sparked unprecedented anti-government protests, which began with a large turnout at her funeral at Aichi Cemetery in Saqqez and quickly spread to many cities across Iran. These widespread protests against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which lasted for several months, resulted in at least 527 protesters being killed and thousands injured and arrested. The protests are known for their central slogan of “Women, Life, Freedom” (Kurdish: Jin, Jiyan, Azadi).

2. Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code: “Anyone who engages in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or in favour of groups and organisations opposing the state, in any manner, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of three months to one year.”

3. Article 618 of the Islamic Penal Code: “Anyone who, through uproar, commotion, unconventional behaviour, or harassment of individuals, disrupts public order and peace or prevents people from engaging in their work, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of three months to one year and up to 74 lashes.”