Interviews with Attack Victims and Their Families
Prior to the state clampdown on media coverage of the acid attacks (which included the arrest of photographers and editors covering peaceful gatherings meant to draw attention to the attacks and the lack of any arrests in the cases), there was a significant amount of reporting by local and national Iranian news agencies on the attacks. This coverage included interviews with victims, family members of victims, and eyewitnesses to the attack, many of whom relayed extensive details about the attacks in the hope of aiding local law enforcement efforts. The following excerpts are drawn from these accounts.
On October 18, 2014, ISNA talked to the father of one of the acid attack victims, identified in that report as 27-year-old Neda M.
“Neda stopped the car on the corner of the street to take a call from her mother. At this point, a motorcycle with two riders pulled up next to her and poured acid on her and took off. Now she is injured on her eyes, left ear, neck, arms and legs…. She had no personal grudges with anyone…. She has to undergo four operations, the doctors have given up completely on treating one of her eyes, and the other has a 20-30% chance of vision.”
On October 18, 2014, ISNA talked with one of the acid attack victims, identified in that report as Maryam D.
“I thank God that my son was not with me, because if he was in the passenger seat next to me, what would have happened to him? A motorcyclist poured nearly two liters of acid through the open window on my face, arms, legs, and my entire body. My clothes became powder inside my flesh. I lost one of my corneas and my body is severely disfigured. Part of my skull has a hole in it. …That day I was wearing my university uniform.”
On October 19, 2014, Salamat News reported:
“Today, at 11:00 a.m. on October 19, a motorcyclist with two passengers approached three women on Sheikh Sadoogh Street in Isfahan and threw acid on them. According to an eyewitness who spoke to the local media, one of the women, who had acid poured on her chest, died on the spot. The other two were transferred to hospital…. According to the latest tally, the number of women who have been victims of acid attacks has reached 14.”
