Nikta Esfandani was slain in Tehran during the November 2019 protests that emerged after an abrupt government increase in fuel prices across the country.
Born in 2005, Nikta Esfandani was one the youngest protesters killed by security forces during the protests.
She was a member of a theatre group and liked playing guitar.
Nikta Esfandani was shot in the head by security forces on Sattar Khan Avenue, Tehran, on November 16, 2019.
She was buried in Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery, on November 20.
Nikta’s family said, “We hope that the blood of our innocent daughter is not wasted.”
At least 1,500 people were killed during less than two weeks of protests in November 2019 all across Iran. The toll included at least 29 teenagers and about 400 women.
In a December 2019 report, Reuters said Iranian interior ministry officials also stated that 1500 protesters were killed during the three to four days of protests across the country. According to the report, Khamenei gathered his top security and government officials together, and issued an order: Do whatever it takes to stop them.
Iranian officials denied Reuters’ death toll and after seven months, implied that about 200 to 225 people were killed.
At least 4,000 protesters were arrested during the November 2019 protests and many of them were sentenced to heavy prison terms and even death.
