“What happened the day that school took kids for a governmental demonstration, but students tried to stick to their own chants?”
Esra Panahi was a female student who was beaten to death by plainclothes security forces during nationwide protests in Ardabil, Iran.
Her death had a different story from others because she was killed in one of the most heroic scenes in history.
The incident started when government officials decided to take a group of elementary, middle and high school students (without their parent's permission) on special buses and take them to governmental demonstrations. They probably wanted to film it and broadcast it on national TV as a sign of students loving their regime SO MUCH!
At school, some students oppose going and even called home and ask their parents to come and pick them up.
However, the school authorities, who wanted this to happen so much, threaten the students that if they do not participate in this gathering, they will lose 10 scores from their GPA and they might even not be allowed to go to college.
In short, a large number of students were taken on buses to a completely scary atmosphere, under full security and, they were asked to chant a specific governmental song. They would give them flags and even drinks and they would chant so they all go home safe and sound... But that didn't happen.
Many courageous students immediately protested and chanted anti-government slogans, "Women, Life, Freedom".
When I think about that moment, what they went through and the decision they had to make despite the aggressive eyes…
The angry school officials returned the students and started to scold them, but the students didn’t listen and once again they insisted on shouting anti-government slogans.
Governmental plainclothes officers were notified and they came, and they did what they always do, create tragedy…
The girls were gathered in the schoolyard and plainclothes agents stormed in like locusts with batons in hand.
Esra Panahi was an orphan kid and she died in that attack, while many others got injured or arrested…
The statements and rumors of the government officials about heart disease of Esra seem so ridiculous while she won third place in the freestyle swimming in the 50 meters individual category of the province.
She was a girl who didn't give in and died for it.
She didn’t give in to chanting governmental slogans and she died for it!
She preferred to have her own voice!
