Mohsen Malmir

Mohsen Malmir, a 26-year-old from Nowshahr in Mazandaran Province, was one of the first to be killed during the nationwide protests in the Nowshahr town centre following the brutal murder of Mahsa Zhina Amini.

He was Born in Chalous, Mohsen was passionate about bodybuilding, with dreams of competing at the national level. But in September 2022, his life was cut short as he stood up for justice and freedom alongside countless others in Iran.

On September 30, Mohsen joined a peaceful demonstration in Nowshahr, gathering with fellow citizens outside the municipality to protest the oppressive regime. As the night progressed, government forces launched a violent attack on the demonstrators. The sheer size and determination of the protestors initially forced the regime’s forces to retreat to the municipality building. But under the cover of darkness, with the building’s lights switched off, they opened fire, raining down live bullets on the unarmed crowd.

The peaceful center of Nowshahr quickly turned into a battlefield. Youths on the front lines fell to the ground, blood staining the streets. In the chaos, Mohsen heroically attempted to rescue a fellow demonstrator who had been injured. While trying to help, Mohsen was struck by two fatal shots. One of the bullets hit his heart, causing severe blood loss. Despite the desperate efforts of the people to get him to a hospital, Mohsen died before he could receive help.

The hospital floors were soaked with the blood of innocent young people that night. Alongside Mohsen, several of his friends, including Hananeh Kiya, Amirhossein Shams, Mehrzad Eyvazpur, and Hoseinali Kiya were also killed. More than ten others lost their lives in what became a massacre of peaceful demonstrators.

Mohsen was buried that night in Ashkardasht Cemetery in Chalous, under tight security. The regime sought to silence any public mourning, but the people of Nowshahr were not deterred. That night, they gathered peacefully, demanding their rights with nothing but their voices and bare hands. Facing live ammunition and a “shoot to kill” order from the regime, some desperate protestors set fire to a police kiosk in an attempt to defend themselves. This act of defiance momentarily forced the regime’s forces to retreat.

Mohsen and his friends, like thousands of other Iranians, were killed for daring to demand a basic human right: the right to live a free and dignified life. Their sacrifice is a powerful reminder of the regime’s brutality, a savagery that will be etched in history when Iran finally reaches its freedom.

Until that day, we will remember Mohsen and all those who gave their lives for freedom. We will not let their names be forgotten.