Sepehr Biranvand

Sepehr Biranvand (December 5, 2003 – November 9, 2022)

Sepehr Biranvand, known to his friends as Sam, was born on December 5, 2003, in Khorramabad, Iran. He was a hardworking, artistic young man who balanced his high school education with various jobs to support himself. While living in Karaj, he worked in a miniature art workshop and occasionally in cabinet making and glass manufacturing, determined to earn his living through honest work. Sepehr had a deep passion for painting, wrestling, and boxing, and dreamed of taking the national university entrance exam to study graphic design.
The nationwide protests of 2022 profoundly changed the course of his life. The death of Mahsa Amini deeply affected him and inspired him to become actively involved in the movement. He attended demonstrations in Karaj almost every night, refusing to remain silent. When people asked why Mahsa Amini's death mattered so much to him, he would simply reply, "What would you do if Mahsa were your own niece?"
His growing involvement in the protests worried his family. Hoping to keep him safe, his father brought him back to their hometown of Khorramabad, believing it would be a more secure place. But Sepehr's determination did not fade. Even after returning home, he continued his activism.
On the evening of November 8, 2022, Sepehr posted a message on his Instagram account calling on the people of Khorramabad to gather for a demonstration at Shaqayegh Park. He urged people to stand together and take to the streets for a better future.
The following evening, November 9, 2022, before leaving home to join his friends, he spoke words that would later become unforgettable. Turning to his sister, he said:
"If I don't go, if you don't go, if no one goes... then who will?"
That night, Sepehr joined the protesters. According to published accounts, he and several friends were present near the Shaqayegh underpass and Shaqayegh Park when security forces confronted the demonstrators. During the confrontation, officers opened fire, and Sepehr was struck by a bullet and seriously wounded.
According to accounts published by his family and several human rights organizations, Sepehr was still alive after being shot but later lost his life. His body was reportedly taken away by security forces. Reports also stated that the surrounding streets were sealed off and that surveillance cameras in the area were removed. Different sources describe certain details of the incident differently, and some aspects remain disputed.
After his death, Sepehr's family wished to bury him in Khorramabad. According to published reports, however, they were denied permission. His body was allegedly removed from the forensic medical office without the family's knowledge and secretly buried in Deh Sefid Cemetery, in the Zagheh district.
Despite a heavy security presence and efforts to prevent public gatherings, large numbers of people attended a symbolic funeral and memorial ceremony for Sepehr on November 11, 2022. Participants commemorated him and other victims of the protests while chanting slogans. Reports also stated that security forces fired toward the crowd during the gathering.
His fortieth-day memorial was held on December 15, 2022, under strict security measures. According to reports, security forces had heavily deployed throughout Khorramabad from the previous night in an attempt to discourage public attendance.
Following these events, a judicial case was opened regarding Sepehr Biranvand's death. In June 2023, one security officer was formally charged with intentional murder. However, after further judicial review and referral of the case to the Supreme Court, the officer was ultimately acquitted of the murder charge. Reports also indicated that Sepehr's family faced pressure to accept financial compensation (blood money) and withdraw their complaint, but they refused.
Sepehr Biranvand was only eighteen years old. He was a young man who worked tirelessly, pursued his education, dreamed of studying graphic design, and hoped for a different future. Yet today, many remember him not only for the life he lived, but also for the words he spoke before leaving home for the last time:
"If I don't go, if you don't go, if no one goes... then who will?"