Elahe Tavakolian
Exiled Activist
Elahe Tavakolian is one of many Iranians who lost their eyesight after being shot by security forces during the nationwide protest sparked by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini. She was forced to travel to Italy for medical treatment, where she remains, working to mobilize international support. She endured great hardship in her home country for her activism, being threatened and targeted by the authorities and fired from her job. She is a single mother of two children. In April 2023, Elahe received the “Women in the World for Human Rights” award, sponsored by Fondazione Minerva.
Photo: Javad Parsa