Iran’s savage ‘morality’ cops shot me in face at point blank range for protesting – I paid a price but I have no regrets

AN IRANIAN woman shot in the eye by brutal morality police has vowed to continue her fight for the regime to be toppled from exile.

Elahe Tavakolian was protesting Mahsa Amini‘s death at the hands of ruthless cops when she herself became their victim.

Elahe Tavakolian, an Iranian Ph.D. student, wearing a flag pin and showing visible eye damage.
Instagram / @elahetavakolian14

Elahe Tavakolian[/caption]

Elahe Tavakolian, an Iranian Ph.D. student, with severe eye injuries from pellet bullets.
Instagram / @elahetavakolian14

The mum was shot in the eye by Iran’s ruthless police[/caption]

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, who died after being arrested by Iran's morality police for an alleged improper hijab.
It happened during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022
Rex

She was one of thousands taking part in nationwide rallies after Mahsa, 22, was beaten into a coma by Iran’s feared morality police when she was arrested for wearing her hijab incorrectly.

Single mum Elahe was shielding her young twins and sister after gunshots rang out – before noticing a police officer just 100ft away pointing his firearm at her.

He opened fire – with the bullet hitting her right eye and causing irreparable damage.

Despite losing her right eye and being forced into exile, Elahe is among dozens of brave victims taking a stand against Iran‘s barbaric regime in Mahsa’s memory three years on.

Courageous Elahe says she has “paid a price” for protesting, but insists she will never be silenced in her fight against the bloodthirsty mullahs.

Elahe is one of 100 victims and families who have issued a plea to world leaders to mark the anniversary of Mahsa’s death on September 16, 2022.

She told The Sun: “It’s about ending executions, systematic repression, corruption, and returning Iran to its people.

“I chanted, I marched, and I paid a price that stays with me every day.

“I lost my right eye during the protests due to a bullet – all because I demanded only basic rights, dignity, and freedom.

“Losing my eye did not silence my voice – it amplified it.”

Mahsa’s death has become a symbol of the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom.

Families and victims, including Elahe, have pleaded with the international community to take immediate action in an open letter.

The letter urges governments worldwide to class the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror group and cut all diplomatic and economic ties that legitimise the regime.

It also calls for sanctions to be imposed on the IRGC’s financial, military and cyber networks, and for support to be given to the Iranian public in a transition to a democratic government.

British-Iranian activist Haleh Blake warned women will only be safe in Iran once the current regime is ousted.

Haleh, who left Iran at the age of 14, told how callous mullahs are using new technology to enforce stricter hijab laws rubber-stamped last year.

She told The Sun: “The repression is limitless.

“The entire ideology is embedded within this government within this regime.

“What really needs to happen is this government to be dismantled and a brand new democratic government to come into power.”

What happened to Mahsa Amini?

MAHSA Amini was beaten to death by Iran’s morality police after she was arrested in the capital Tehran for not following the country’s strict hijab laws.

The 22-year-old was detained for having some hair visible under her headscarf – which Iranian women are legally required to wear.

Mahsa fell into a coma shortly after collapsing at the detention centre.

She died three days later in hospital on September 16, 2022.

The morality police have denied smashing her head with a baton and banging it against one of their vehicles.

Mahsa was visiting her brother at the time of her arrest, and police told him she was being transferred to Vozara detention centre for an “educational” class.

Police also beat her brother when he protested her detention.

Mahsa’s death sparked furious protests across the country, with many calling for the dismantling of the ruthless morality police.

Female protestors burned hijabs in the street and riots broke out, with at least eight people killed in clashes with cops and counter-protestors.

Under Iranian law, which is based on the country’s interpretation of Sharia, women must cover their hair with a hijab and wear long, loose-fitting clothing.

The morality police – also know as the Guidance Patrol – are in charge of arresting women who violate the conservative dress code.

Tasked with ensuring Islamic morals are respected, they spend their days patrolling busy public spaces in green and white vans to crack down on “improper” behaviour and clothing.

Women detained by cops are either given a warning or bundled into a van and whisked away to a “correctional facility” or a police station where they are lectured on how to dress before being released to their male relatives.

Since the 1980s, many women have been beaten to death by the callous morality police, or tortured into given false confessions.

In the last year, the warped regime began using phones, cameras, drones, civilian agents and subway tickets to track women dressed “improperly”.

After the Iranian revolution in 1979, hijabs became a compulsory dress code for women.

For decades, activists and citizens have challenged mandatory hijabs – prompting brutal crackdowns from the regime.

In 2022, widespread protests erupted following Mahsa’s death in custody for wearing her hijab “improperly”.

Mass arrests, police violence and several executions followed as panicked supreme leader Ali Khamenei attempted to stamp out any form of revolt.

Haleh said: “Women continue to be harassed and they’re still resisting.

“Every time they go out to protest, they know they may not come back home alive.

“That’s the sort of price some of these brave Iranians are essentially willing to pay.”

Elahe Tavakolian, an Iranian Ph.D. student, lies in a hospital bed with her left eye bandaged and holding a bouquet of flowers.
Instagram / @elahetavakolian14

Elahe went to Italy for treatment, where she now lives in exile[/caption]

Elahe Tavakolian, an Iranian Ph.D. student, with an eye patch over her right eye.
Instagram / @elahetavakolian14

Elahe said losing her eye has not silenced her – but instead amplified her voice[/caption]

Elahe added: “The anniversary of Mahsa Amini is the symbol of a historic movement in Iran.

“This movement is not just about opposing compulsory hijab – it is a powerful voice against executions, repression, corruption, and injustice.

“Though the regime has tried to crush it, the women and youth of Iran have made their voices heard around the world.

“The laws may not have changed yet, but the awareness within society, and the resistance of women, is a profound transformation -one that cannot be undone.”

After being shot, Elahe was forced to travel to Italy for medical treatment, where she now lives in exile and works tirelessly in her mission to end of Khamenei’s evil regime.

The mum said countless Iranians – both in the country and in exile – want to see its overthrow as “the Islamic Republic is not reformable from within”.

She said: “This regime does not represent the people of Iran, and it must go – so that Iran can breathe.

“We seek freedom, justice, and democracy – not the survival of a repressive government.

“I ask the politicians of the US, Europe, and the West to stand with the people of Iran.

“Separate the people of Iran from the regime. Stand with the people – not with the Islamic Republic.

“International organisations have repeatedly documented widespread repression, killings and arrests. This is not just our testimony – it is a documented reality that still persists.”

‘International community must act for its own security’

MORE than 100 families of victims and victims themselves of Iran’s regime have issued an open letter to world leaders.

The plea to the international community to confront the Islamic Republic’s escalating violence and repression comes as activists mark the third anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s brutal death.

Read the full letter below:

To the Leaders and People of the World

We, the undersigned, are victims and families of victims who, together with our loved ones, took to the streets during the national uprisings, including the three major uprisings of December 2017, November 2019, and 2022, in protest against the dictatorial nature of the Islamic Republic, and to stand in solidarity with other segments of the nation.

The regime’s response to our protests was severe bodily harm: blinding or killing our loved ones with live ammunition, and torturing and executing them with the noose in its prisons.

From the moment it seized power, the Islamic Republic has diverted the nation’s financial resources and capacities away from the welfare and well-being of the people and instead invested them in building the infrastructure of repression and killing.

At home, it silences people through executions and crackdowns; abroad, it threatens global security through state terrorism, hostage-taking, wars waged via its proxies, the production of long-range missiles, and its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Despite this bloody repression, the Iranian people – women and men, young and old – continue to protest and struggle for freedom and a dignified life.

Today, the Islamic Republic has lost all social base due to its failure to provide welfare, its widespread repression, and its loss of legitimacy.

Its survival depends solely on the barrel of the gun and the machinery of oppression.

This criminal regime now stands at the darkest point in its history: the daily lives of the people have been shattered, while fresh crises—from economic collapse to environmental catastrophe—arise each day.

Iran is rapidly moving toward drought, which means new waves of forced migration—a direct threat to countries that are already struggling with migration challenges.

The regime has lost its key agents of repression, and after the twelve-day war and Khamenei’s disappearance from public view, even its propaganda machine has become ineffective.

Yet through its pursuit of nuclear weapons, the global terrorist networks of the Revolutionary Guards, and its proxy forces fueling wars across the region, it remains a serious threat to international peace and security.

Establishing global peace and security requires coordinated and comprehensive action. Although late, there is still time to prevent greater dangers.

As the Iranian people continue their struggle inside the country, the following actions by you will help advance peace and stability in the region and the world:

-Designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
-Cutting all diplomatic and economic ties that serve to legitimise this regime.
-Imposing comprehensive sanctions on the financial, military, and cyber networks of the IRGC.
-Providing maximum and practical support to the Iranian people in their transition to a democratic government.

The people of Iran have shed blood and stood firm. Now it is time for the international community to act for its own security.

The struggle of the Iranian nation will be remembered in history as a sacrifice not only for freedom but also for the security of the world.

September 20, 2025
Read More >>

Watch Israel’s Iron Beam missile interceptor that ‘NEVER runs out of ammo’ burst into life as laser system is deployed

THIS is the jawdropping moment Israel’s new Iron Beam interceptor blasts drones out of the sky – as the laser-based system is deployed.

Extraordinary footage shows the £413million air defence weapon which “never runs out of ammo” in action – burning projectiles out of the sky.

Detail of Iron Beam laser anti-missile interception system.
Reuters

Israel’s Iron Beam laser-based system is now operational[/caption]

Lidar beams firing from a ground station into the night sky.
Reuters

It downs drones by burning them out of the skies[/caption]

A flaming object falling with a trail of smoke.
A drone pictured after being lasered out of the sky

Illustration of the Iron Beam defence system firing lasers from two trucks to intercept multiple missiles in the sky, with callouts detailing its functions and capabilities.

After completing development and passing its final tests, the state-of-the-art weapon has now been declared operational.

It will be delivered to the military by the end of this year, Israel’s Defence Ministry confirmed.

The cutting edge Iron Beam has been in development for over a decade.

After first being unveiled in 2014, Israel then used a low-powered version of the system to shoot down Hezbollah drones used from Lebanon.

Tel Aviv said it, “successfully completed an advanced series of operational tests, which lasted several weeks, to demonstrate the capabilities of the high-power laser system”.

They added that the tests involved intercepting rockets, mortars, and drones.

The Defence Ministry said: “The series of tests, conducted at a testing ground in southern Israel, concludes the development process and constitutes the final stage before delivering the system for operational use in the IDF.”

The technological marvel was designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

They also renamed the system in Hebrew from Magen Or, which means light shield, to Or Eitan, meaning Eitan’s light.

The name is dedicated to Cpt. Eitan Oster, 22, an Israeli commander who was killed fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in October 2024.

Dramatic footage shows the system in action, carefully scanning the sky before blitzing an incoming drone that then crashes to the ground.

The laser systems offer a more cost-effective solution to combating air threats.

The Iron Beam is not supposed to replace the Iron Dome or Israel’s other air defence systems.

But it will significantly complement their already advanced arsenal by shooting incoming projectiles at the speed of light.

Thermal imaging of a missile hitting a target.
Earlier footage showed the smaller version blasting a Hezbollah drone out of the sky
Israel's laser defense system in action.
Israel Ministry of Defence

IDF operators working with the laser system[/caption]

Israel Iron Beam missile defense system firing a laser at night.
Ministry of Defense

Israel’s Iron Beam system in action[/caption]

The Iron Beam is expected to down smaller projectiles, while leaving larger ones for the more robust missile-based weapons such as the David’s Sling and Arrow systems.

Instead of using traditional bullets or missiles, the Iron Beam only needs energy for ammunition.

As long as it has consistent access to an energy source, it can never run dry.

Just one interception from the Iron Dome can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

How Israel’s defence mechanisms work

Iron Beam

The Iron Beam locks onto UAVs, mortars and rockets at the speed of light before zapping them.

It uses a level of energy to destroy aerial threats.

The laser system has a range from a few hundred metres to several kilemetres.

Iron Dome

The Iron Dome is Israel’s most famed missile shield.

It intercepts short-range rockets as well as shells and mortar.

Iron Dome batteries are scattered across Israel, with each base having three or four launchers.

Each launcher has 20 interceptor missiles.

A radar system detects rockets and calculates the trajectory, while a control system estimates the impact point.

An operator then decides whether to launch rockets to intercept.

David’s Sling

David’s Sling destroys longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium or long-range ballistic missiles.

It started operation in 2017 and like the Dome, only stops missiles that threaten civilians and infrastructure.

Arrow 2 and Arrow 3

Arrow 2 wipes out short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles while they are flying through the upper atmosphere.

It is able to detect missiles up to 500km away.

Missiles from Arrow 2 can travel at nine times the speed of sounds – firing at up to 14 targets at once.

Arrow 3 meanwhile intercepts long-range ballistic missiles as they travel at the top of their arc outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Thaad system

Thaad is a US-made system, designed to work in a similar way to David’s Sling and intercept missiles towards the end of their flight.

It can stop missiles inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Thaad batteries usually have six launchers, which each contain eight missiles.

Whereas the laser system is said to cost as little as £2 per use with a power output of 100kW.

Officials have dubbed it a potential “game-changer” in the battle against aerial attacks.

However, the system does not perform well in low visibility, including heavy cloud cover or fog.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said: “The Iron Beam places the State of Israel at the forefront of global military technology and makes the State of Israel the first country to possess this capability.”

He added: “This is not only a moment of national pride, but a historic milestone for our defense envelope.

“A fast, precise interception at marginal cost that joins the existing defensive tools and changes the threat equation,” he said.

The Iron Beam laser interceptor system.
www.rafael.co.il

It cost £413million to manufacture but just £2 for each use[/caption]

Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepting rockets over Ashkelon, Israel.
Reuters

The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, October 9, 2023[/caption]

Israel's laser defense system in action.
Israel Ministry of Defence

The smaller version of the laser system, pictured[/caption]

September 18, 2025
Read More >>

Watch Israel’s Iron Beam missile interceptor that ‘NEVER runs out of ammo’ burst into life as laser system is deployed

THIS is the jawdropping moment Israel’s new Iron Beam interceptor blasts drones out of the sky – as the laser-based system is deployed.

Extraordinary footage shows the £413million air defence weapon which “never runs out of ammo” in action – burning projectiles out of the sky.

Detail of Iron Beam laser anti-missile interception system.
Reuters

Israel’s Iron Beam laser-based system is now operational[/caption]

Lidar beams firing from a ground station into the night sky.
Reuters

It downs drones by burning them out of the skies[/caption]

A flaming object falling with a trail of smoke.
A drone pictured after being lasered out of the sky

Illustration of the Iron Beam defence system firing lasers from two trucks to intercept multiple missiles in the sky, with callouts detailing its functions and capabilities.

After completing development and passing its final tests, the state-of-the-art weapon has now been declared operational.

It will be delivered to the military by the end of this year, Israel’s Defence Ministry confirmed.

The cutting edge Iron Beam has been in development for over a decade.

After first being unveiled in 2014, Israel then used a low-powered version of the system to shoot down Hezbollah drones used from Lebanon.

Tel Aviv said it, “successfully completed an advanced series of operational tests, which lasted several weeks, to demonstrate the capabilities of the high-power laser system”.

They added that the tests involved intercepting rockets, mortars, and drones.

The Defence Ministry said: “The series of tests, conducted at a testing ground in southern Israel, concludes the development process and constitutes the final stage before delivering the system for operational use in the IDF.”

The technological marvel was designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

They also renamed the system in Hebrew from Magen Or, which means light shield, to Or Eitan, meaning Eitan’s light.

The name is dedicated to Cpt. Eitan Oster, 22, an Israeli commander who was killed fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in October 2024.

Dramatic footage shows the system in action, carefully scanning the sky before blitzing an incoming drone that then crashes to the ground.

The laser systems offer a more cost-effective solution to combating air threats.

The Iron Beam is not supposed to replace the Iron Dome or Israel’s other air defence systems.

But it will significantly complement their already advanced arsenal by shooting incoming projectiles at the speed of light.

Thermal imaging of a missile hitting a target.
Earlier footage showed the smaller version blasting a Hezbollah drone out of the sky
Israel's laser defense system in action.
Israel Ministry of Defence

IDF operators working with the laser system[/caption]

Israel Iron Beam missile defense system firing a laser at night.
Ministry of Defense

Israel’s Iron Beam system in action[/caption]

The Iron Beam is expected to down smaller projectiles, while leaving larger ones for the more robust missile-based weapons such as the David’s Sling and Arrow systems.

Instead of using traditional bullets or missiles, the Iron Beam only needs energy for ammunition.

As long as it has consistent access to an energy source, it can never run dry.

Just one interception from the Iron Dome can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

How Israel’s defence mechanisms work

Iron Beam

The Iron Beam locks onto UAVs, mortars and rockets at the speed of light before zapping them.

It uses a level of energy to destroy aerial threats.

The laser system has a range from a few hundred metres to several kilemetres.

Iron Dome

The Iron Dome is Israel’s most famed missile shield.

It intercepts short-range rockets as well as shells and mortar.

Iron Dome batteries are scattered across Israel, with each base having three or four launchers.

Each launcher has 20 interceptor missiles.

A radar system detects rockets and calculates the trajectory, while a control system estimates the impact point.

An operator then decides whether to launch rockets to intercept.

David’s Sling

David’s Sling destroys longer-range rockets, cruise missiles and medium or long-range ballistic missiles.

It started operation in 2017 and like the Dome, only stops missiles that threaten civilians and infrastructure.

Arrow 2 and Arrow 3

Arrow 2 wipes out short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles while they are flying through the upper atmosphere.

It is able to detect missiles up to 500km away.

Missiles from Arrow 2 can travel at nine times the speed of sounds – firing at up to 14 targets at once.

Arrow 3 meanwhile intercepts long-range ballistic missiles as they travel at the top of their arc outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Thaad system

Thaad is a US-made system, designed to work in a similar way to David’s Sling and intercept missiles towards the end of their flight.

It can stop missiles inside and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Thaad batteries usually have six launchers, which each contain eight missiles.

Whereas the laser system is said to cost as little as £2 per use with a power output of 100kW.

Officials have dubbed it a potential “game-changer” in the battle against aerial attacks.

However, the system does not perform well in low visibility, including heavy cloud cover or fog.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said: “The Iron Beam places the State of Israel at the forefront of global military technology and makes the State of Israel the first country to possess this capability.”

He added: “This is not only a moment of national pride, but a historic milestone for our defense envelope.

“A fast, precise interception at marginal cost that joins the existing defensive tools and changes the threat equation,” he said.

The Iron Beam laser interceptor system.
www.rafael.co.il

It cost £413million to manufacture but just £2 for each use[/caption]

Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepting rockets over Ashkelon, Israel.
Reuters

The Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, October 9, 2023[/caption]

Israel's laser defense system in action.
Israel Ministry of Defence

The smaller version of the laser system, pictured[/caption]

September 18, 2025
Read More >>