Summary
Hadis Najafi (2000–2022) was a 22-year-old from Karaj who was shot dead on 21 September 2022, five days after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. A short video of a young woman tying back her long hair as she walked toward a line of riot police, filmed minutes before the shooting, was identified as her and became one of the most widely shared images of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.
Her life
Hadis was the fourth of five sisters. She had finished school, worked in a restaurant and later in a clothing shop in Karaj, and was saving to study. Her family described someone with no political affiliation who had been drawn into the streets by the images coming out of Tehran and Saqqez in the days after Mahsa Amini's death. In the video her sister later confirmed as hers, she is heard saying she hoped things would change in a few years.
21 September 2022
Protests in Gohardasht, a district of Karaj, met a heavy deployment of anti-riot units and Basij militia. According to her family, Hadis was hit by several rounds, including to the chest, neck and face, and died before reaching hospital. Her body was held for two days before being released for burial.
Denial and pressure
State outlets initially suggested she had died elsewhere or at the hands of unnamed armed men. Her family were warned against giving interviews and against holding a public ceremony. On the fortieth day after her death, a large crowd gathered at Behesht-e Sakineh cemetery and was dispersed with tear gas; several mourners were detained.
Legacy
The gesture of tying back hair before walking forward was reproduced in murals, protest posters and stage performances worldwide, and became a visual shorthand for the uprising. Her name is read alongside Nika Shakarami, Sarina Esmailzadeh and Kian Pirfalak, and appears in the casualty documentation compiled by rights organisations for the autumn of 2022.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Hadis Najafi?
Hadis Najafi was a 22-year-old woman from Karaj, west of Tehran, who worked in a restaurant and a clothing shop. She was shot dead on 21 September 2022 while attending a protest over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
How did Hadis Najafi die?
Her family said she was struck by multiple bullets, including to the chest and neck, fired by security forces at a protest in the Gohardasht district of Karaj. She died on the way to hospital.
What is the video of her tying her hair?
A clip filmed shortly before she was killed shows a young woman gathering and tying back her hair as she walks toward a line of security forces. It was widely identified as Hadis and became one of the most reproduced images of the uprising.
Did the authorities accept responsibility?
No. Iranian officials suggested she had been killed by unidentified gunmen and pressed her family not to speak publicly. No investigation results have been published and no one has been prosecuted.
What happened at her grave?
Mourners gathered at Behesht-e Sakineh cemetery in Karaj on the traditional fortieth day after her death and were dispersed with tear gas and gunfire. Her family reported ongoing surveillance and summonses.
Sources
- Amnesty International — Iran
- Human Rights Watch — Iran
- UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran
- BBC News — reporting on the 2022 uprising
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