Esra Panahi

Esraa Panahi(March 21, 2007 – October 12, 2022)

Esraa Panahi-Khanqah, born in March 2007 in Ardabil, was a student at Shahed Girls' High School in this city. She lived in a family that had already faced serious difficulties; her father, Ahmad Panahi, had been executed in September 2022 after several years of imprisonment.

Alongside her studies, Esraa was interested in sports. In 2018, she participated in the Azerbaijan Girls' Swimming Championship held in Tabriz, where she won a bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle individual event and another bronze medal in the team competition. She was also selected as the top swimmer in the under-12 category in the East Azerbaijan women's swimming league and later took part in the national talent olympiad in 2019.

On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, following an event related to the government-sponsored anthem “Salam Farmandeh,” a group of students at Shahed High School in Ardabil protested against being forced to participate. They reportedly chanted slogans during the protest.

According to reports, after these protests, security forces and plainclothes agents entered the school and confronted the students. Based on statements from teachers’ unions and eyewitness accounts, several students were beaten. Esraa Panahi was reportedly seriously injured during this incident and later died after being transferred to Fatemi Hospital in Ardabil.

In contrast, official narratives from some authorities and state media differed. These accounts attributed her death to a congenital heart condition or, in some cases, to suicide. In certain statements, even her status as a student or her presence at the school was questioned.

Statements from family members and close acquaintances, reported by independent sources, rejected these claims and stated that her death resulted from injuries sustained during the incident. However, videos of one of her relatives were broadcast by state media presenting differing accounts, which some observers suggested may have been made under pressure.

The incident triggered widespread reactions in society. Among those who responded was Ali Daei, a former Iranian national football team player and coach, who condemned the incident and described it as a sign of increasing violence against students.

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations also reported that, following their investigations, they concluded that Esraa Panahi had died on the same day as the incident due to the actions of security forces.

Over time, contradictions between official and non-official accounts regarding the cause and circumstances of her death continued. While some authorities denied any violent confrontation, eyewitness reports and independent sources described incidents of violence at the school.

Ultimately, Esraa Panahi was buried in Aliabad Cemetery in Ardabil. Her name has been included among those who lost their lives during the 2022 protests in Iran, which began after the death of Mahsa Amini and drew widespread attention both domestically and internationally.