“Hossein Naderbighi”: I Survived But Both My Eyes Became Blind

“Hossein Naderbighi” regarding his current condition said: “I survived but both my eyes became blind.”

Hossein Naderbighi is one of the freedom seekers who lost the sight of both eyes following nationwide protests. Despite multiple surgeries performed, his vision has not returned and doctors were only able to preserve the appearance of Hossein’s eyes.

Hossein Naderbighi spoke about his current condition regarding his life situation, and his remarks were published today on Twitter. Hossein describes himself as follows: “I am Hossein Naderbighi. I survived but both my eyes became blind. I am 23 years old and a student at Azad University, or rather I was. I live in Karaj with my mother, twin brother, and a younger brother. It has been 5 years since my father passed away and my mother supports the family through tailoring work.

After obtaining my diploma in November 1398, I went to military service and my service ended on November 25, 1400. To help with my mother’s expenses, I worked as a laborer in a company and saved some money, which was later spent on my eye surgeries. My joy and recreation was sports—I played football and was professionally engaged in bodybuilding for several months. Recently I had also bought a guitar and was attending two training classes per week.

I am a fan of the Persepolis team but now I can no longer go to the stadium.”

Hossein continues by recounting the story of losing his eyes: “The 40th day ceremony for Hadith Najafi was held at Bahar-e Sakina cemetery located in Karaj. Suppressive forces prevented the ceremony from being held and were targeting people with live ammunition. There was heavy traffic and the internet was shut down, and I was not even aware of that day’s commotion. Standing away from the clashes, between the suppressors and the protesters, when suddenly a motorcyclist with someone sitting on the back, both wearing Basiji clothing, came towards me. At first they passed by, but the person sitting on the back of the motorcycle told the rider to stop. He pulled a weapon from under his jacket and while standing 5 meters away from me, smiled and shot at my face. I still remember his face.”

After shooting at Hossein Naderbighi’s face, the Basiji forces came towards him and shot at his neck, face and the rest of his body parts, so that Hossein lost consciousness and two women helped him and took him to the nearest clinic in Karaj. The pellets fired pierced his eyes, face, neck, hands and kidneys, and Hossein had lost the ability to speak for a week.

The clinic staff found his family through Hossein’s national ID card and contacted them. They handed over a body full of pellets and eyes that had no ability to see to his family, and after the family visited the “Noor” and “Noor-dideagan” clinics in Karaj, they faced refusal to accept their son due to fear. Two days after Hossein was injured, he underwent surgery at Farabi Hospital in Tehran and after 8 days of hospitalization and a 6-hour surgery, 2 pellets were removed from the right eye and 3 pellets from the left eye, which had pierced the eye and damaged his retina.

Other pellets remain in Hossein’s body and no measures have been taken to remove them yet. Some pellets have calcified over time and have come out from under the skin, but many of them still remain in his body. After surgery, Hossein had to sleep on his stomach for a month, and doctors have no hope of restoring his vision. The retina of both his eyes has been seriously damaged and due to the lack of scientific progress regarding retinal transplants, he must wait for scientific advancement and this surgery to be performed in the world. Doctors were only able to preserve the appearance of Hossein’s eyes.

Hossein is currently in a very poor psychological condition. His absence from university and work has worn him down to the point that he thinks of suicide. Hossein said to his mother: “You brought me into this world and you have the right to take my life. I suffer greatly, please rid me of this.” Hossein’s mother constantly watches over her son in hopes of the day he can see. He became blind in the prime of his youth and cannot even help his mother with living expenses.

Hossein’s question to the system is: What was my crime?!

The Islamic Republic system and its agents not only take the lives of innocent people, but inflict such physical and psychological damage to them that they wish for death a thousand times a day. According to the accounts of survivors of victims and injured individuals, the Islamic Republic system will soon pay the price for all these crimes and injustices.