Iranian Archer Says ‘No Regrets’ After Shedding Eye At Protest

Paris, France:

An Iranian archer who had misplaced sight in her left eye after being shot by safety forces has stated she has “no regrets” for becoming a member of nationwide protests.

Iranian authorities have cracked down on greater than 4 months of anti-regime protests sparked by the September 16 loss of life in custody of Mahsa Amini, arrested for allegedly violating strict costume guidelines for ladies.

Kosar Khoshnoudikia, a member of Iran’s nationwide archery staff, had been shot at a rally final 12 months in her hometown of Kermanshah, within the Kurdish-populated west, stated the Norway-based rights group Hengaw.

“I’ve felt no regrets for being there on that day, at the moment,” Khoshnoudikia stated in a video posted Monday by London-based Iran Worldwide TV.

Showing with no headband and along with her left eye hid by a patch, Khoshnoudikia stated within the video she had been shot in early December whereas attending a march in Kermanshah along with her father.

“Three pictures hit my proper hand and one shot hit my left eye,” she stated, including her father had additionally been shot within the hand.

Amnesty Worldwide and different rights teams have accused Iranian safety forces of partially or fully blinding a number of protesters, firing reside ammunition and steel pellets at shut vary.

Khoshnoudikia, who gained silver within the compound bow ladies’s staff occasion on the 2021 Asian Archery Championships, didn’t say whether or not she believed she may resume her sporting profession.

Regardless of a number of operations, she has completely misplaced the sight in her left eye, in accordance with Hengaw.

“I’m by no means unhappy about what occurred,” she stated. “I misplaced some issues, however I gained quite a bit.”

It was not instantly clear the place Khoshnoudikia was talking from.

A minimum of 481 individuals have been killed within the authorities’ crackdown on the protest motion, in accordance with Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights.

Khoshnoudikia stated she had misplaced sight in a single eye “for a goal. I’ve by no means felt unhappy for myself and for what occurred.”

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)