Minoo Majidi: A Mother, A Fighter, A Symbol of Courage.
Provided by The Victims’ Families for Transitional Justice.
Minoo Majidi was born on July 11, 1960, in Qasr-e Shirin, Kermanshah, into a Kurdish family. A passionate educator, she pursued her studies at Tabriz Teacher Training Center, earning her associate degree in experimental sciences in 1981. However, like many intellectuals and educators, she was purged from her teaching position following the Islamic Republic’s Cultural Revolution. Undeterred, she dedicated herself to helping others, later becoming a volunteer coach for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in table tennis.
Minoo’s life was one of resilience and quiet strength. She was a woman of boundless energy, a lover of literature and sports, and a nurturing pillar for her family. Her daughter, Roya Piraei, described her as someone who "always believed in freedom, cared deeply for people, and lived by the principles she held dear." She sympathized with the mothers of slain protesters and could not bear to stand aside as young people risked their lives for justice. On the evening of September 20, 2022, she left home, telling her husband, "If I don’t go, if you don’t go, should the young people die alone and then we claim victory?"
That night, Minoo joined the protests in Kermanshah, just days after Mahsa Amini’s killing ignited nationwide demonstrations. Security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters. She was shot at close range with 167 shotgun pellets, mostly in her back and neck. She died almost instantly.
Her funeral turned into an act of defiance. As mourners chanted "Woman, Life, Freedom," her daughter, Roya, shaved her head and unveiled beside her mother’s grave—a silent yet deafening protest that resonated worldwide. The image of Roya holding her shorn hair in her fist became one of the most powerful symbols of Iran’s uprising.
Her other daughter, Mahsa, has also carried her mother’s memory forward, ensuring the world does not forget Minoo’s sacrifice. Roya and Mahsa have become voices for justice, transforming their grief into a relentless pursuit of truth.
Minoo Majidi did not seek to become a martyr but walked toward justice knowing the risks. She was a mother who stood with the young, a woman who chose courage over fear, and now, a name history will never forget.
Provided by The Victims’ Families for Transitional Justice.
Minoo Majidi was born on July 11, 1960, in Qasr-e Shirin, Kermanshah, into a Kurdish family. A passionate educator, she pursued her studies at Tabriz Teacher Training Center, earning her associate degree in experimental sciences in 1981. However, like many intellectuals and educators, she was purged from her teaching position following the Islamic Republic’s Cultural Revolution. Undeterred, she dedicated herself to helping others, later becoming a volunteer coach for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in table tennis.
Minoo’s life was one of resilience and quiet strength. She was a woman of boundless energy, a lover of literature and sports, and a nurturing pillar for her family. Her daughter, Roya Piraei, described her as someone who "always believed in freedom, cared deeply for people, and lived by the principles she held dear." She sympathized with the mothers of slain protesters and could not bear to stand aside as young people risked their lives for justice. On the evening of September 20, 2022, she left home, telling her husband, "If I don’t go, if you don’t go, should the young people die alone and then we claim victory?"
That night, Minoo joined the protests in Kermanshah, just days after Mahsa Amini’s killing ignited nationwide demonstrations. Security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters. She was shot at close range with 167 shotgun pellets, mostly in her back and neck. She died almost instantly.
Her funeral turned into an act of defiance. As mourners chanted "Woman, Life, Freedom," her daughter, Roya, shaved her head and unveiled beside her mother’s grave—a silent yet deafening protest that resonated worldwide. The image of Roya holding her shorn hair in her fist became one of the most powerful symbols of Iran’s uprising.
Her other daughter, Mahsa, has also carried her mother’s memory forward, ensuring the world does not forget Minoo’s sacrifice. Roya and Mahsa have become voices for justice, transforming their grief into a relentless pursuit of truth.
Minoo Majidi did not seek to become a martyr but walked toward justice knowing the risks. She was a mother who stood with the young, a woman who chose courage over fear, and now, a name history will never forget.