Aref Ghorbanpour

Aref Ghorbanpour (March 16, 1988 – November 7, 2022)

Aref Ghorbanpour, born on March 16, 1988, was a hardworking laborer from Lasht-e Nesha, a small town near Rasht, Iran. He worked at a construction materials store, loading and transporting building supplies to earn a living and support his only daughter.
My name is Sarina Ghorbanpour, and I am Aref Ghorbanpour’s only child.
I was 13 years old when I lost my father. To me, he was not only a father but also a mother, a friend, and the person who dedicated his entire life to my well-being and future.
My father worked tirelessly, often from morning until night, to provide for us. His job was physically demanding, yet he never complained. Despite the financial hardships we faced, he always did his best to give me a better life. We did not have many material possessions, and there were things we could not afford, but when we were together, we felt rich in love and happiness.
The bond between my father and me was extraordinary. He raised me with kindness, patience, and devotion. No matter how difficult life became, he remained hopeful about the future and dreamed of better days for me and for the younger generation.
On the evening of November 7, 2022, everything changed.
My father had finished work and was on his way home when protests were taking place in our town. As he approached the area near our home, he joined the gathering. During the confrontation between security forces and protesters, he was struck by a gunshot to the face, beneath his eye.
He died that evening.
The loss of my father shattered my world. When his body was brought for burial, I could not bear to let him go. The person who had been my protector, my guide, and my greatest source of love was suddenly gone. He was laid to rest in the Rezvan Cemetery of Lasht-e Nesha.
Since then, I have lived with my grandparents. Whenever I miss my father, I visit his grave. I stand beside his photograph, speak to him, and remember the countless sacrifices he made for me. Although he is no longer physically present, his memory remains with me every day.
My father spent his life working hard to build a future for his daughter. He taught me the value of love, perseverance, and dignity. To me, he will always be a hero—not because of how he died, but because of how he lived.
The first anniversary memorial ceremony for Aref Ghorbanpour was held on November 2, 2023, at Jalidan Mosque in Zibakenar, where family members, friends, and community members gathered to honor his memory and remember a man whose life was defined by hard work, devotion, and love for his daughter.
His memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew him, and especially in the heart of the daughter he raised with unwavering care and affection.