The first time Zahra Gholamvand ever left her home country of Iran, it was to come to live in Dublin.
The Trinity College academic had rallied in support of reformist candidates when she lived in Tehran, but lost hope when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rewon the presidency in 2009 amid allegations of vote-rigging.
Now she watches the latest events in the Islamic republic with a mixture of trepidation and admiration for those taking part in the uprising.
19 children are among the 185 young people known to have been killed in the protests against the regime, which have spilled into their fourth week.
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Whole swathes of society have now joined the demonstrations triggered by the apparent murder of Mahsa Amini in police custody. The 22 year old was taken off the street by the ‘morality police’ for failing to wear her hijab in a way they consider decent.
Since then a number of other cases have come to light and brave girls have been killed as authorities respond to protests with lethal force.
Speaking out against the regime means Zahra has left herself open to threats and online abuse, and it will no longer be possible for her travel home.
Undeterred, she shares her story with today’s In The News podcast.
