Sara Deldar, a 32-year-old political prisoner and nurse who was arrested during the nationwide protests in Iran in 2022, has tragically passed away due to severe infections caused by buckshot embedded in her body and head. Nine months after being released on medical furlough, Deldar succumbed to the infection at a hospital in Rasht.
Deldar was initially arrested during the mass protests that swept across Iran in 2022 and was subsequently imprisoned in Lakan Prison, located in Rasht. While incarcerated, she endured severe torture and ill-treatment, which exacerbated her medical condition. During her imprisonment, Sara suffered from buckshot wounds that were not adequately treated. In January 2024, authorities conditionally released her for medical treatment, but the infections had already caused irreversible damage.
For the last six months of her life, Deldar had been in a vegetative state, battling worsening infections. On Saturday, September 7, 2024, she passed away in Rasht hospital, after a prolonged and painful struggle.
Sara Deldar was a brave nurse who, during the protests, dedicated herself to helping injured protesters. She became a symbol of courage for many, especially the women of Iran. The circumstances surrounding her death, however, were kept under tight control by Iranian authorities. Reports indicate that intelligence officials pressured her family not to publicize her death. Consequently, her burial was conducted in private, attended only by a small group of family members.
Before her untimely death, Deldar expressed her experiences and sentiments in a poignant post on social media. In her post, she reflected on her time in prison, detailing the emotional and physical toll of her imprisonment, her resilience in helping fellow prisoners, and the ongoing trauma she faced due to the presence of the buckshot in her body. In one part of her post, she wrote:
“I have no regrets for helping the wounded and standing by my conscience. I wrote nothing but the truth, even as I was imprisoned. Even after my release, my mind stayed in the prison, with the women I helped… But the infections have worsened, and I am not the person I once was. My spleen, kidneys, and ovaries are failing. Despite the pain, I am proud of all the courageous women of my land, and my soul is with my sisters who remain imprisoned.”
Deldar’s passing sheds light on the broader context of human rights abuses in Iran, particularly the inhumane treatment of political prisoners and the lack of adequate medical care for those injured or detained during the protests. Her case is one of many, demonstrating the ongoing suppression faced by those who stand against the government in Iran.
Her death coincides with heightened tensions ahead of the anniversary of the 2022 protests, as Iranian authorities intensify their efforts to silence dissent. Despite their efforts to keep Deldar’s death out of the public eye, her story remains a powerful testament to the resilience and bravery of Iran’s protesters, particularly its women.
