A Real Story: The Day Ameneh Bahrami Lost Her Sight

In 2005, Tehran woke up to what seemed like an ordinary morning. Buses were running, offices were opening, and students were heading to their universities. The city was moving through its usual routine. No one knew that, in one small part of the city, a tragedy was about to occur—one that would later shock the entire world.

Ameneh Bahrami was 26 years old at the time. She was bright, intelligent, and full of dreams. She wanted to become a doctor. She dreamed of helping people, easing their pain, and building a better future for her family. Ameneh wanted independence. She wanted to shape her own life and make her own choices.

But there was one man in her life who slowly became a dark shadow—Majid Movahedi.

Majid had proposed marriage to Ameneh. She refused him politely but firmly. She told him she was not interested and wanted to focus on her future. But Majid could not accept rejection. To him, her “no” was not just an answer—it was an insult to his pride. His obsession grew darker. He began to see Ameneh not as a human being with the right to choose, but as something that belonged to him.

Ameneh warned him to stay away. She tried to protect herself. But Majid continued to follow her.

Then came the day that changed everything.

As Ameneh was walking to her office, Majid suddenly appeared in front of her. He said he just wanted to talk. She tried to ignore him and move away, but in the next moment, Majid pulled a small bottle from his pocket.

Inside the bottle was sulfuric acid.

Without any warning, he threw it directly onto Ameneh’s face.

Within seconds, she felt as if her face were on fire. The pain in her eyes was unbearable. Her skin began to burn. She screamed and collapsed to the ground, begging for help—but in that moment, her world had already gone dark.

The acid did not only destroy her face—it took away her sight.

Doctors managed to save Ameneh’s life, but they could not save her eyes. She lost almost all of her vision. Deep scars covered her face. The young woman who once looked into the mirror and saw her future now saw only the reminder of her pain.

Her life had changed forever.

Every day was filled with physical pain. She endured countless surgeries, bandaged eyes, and endless suffering. But the emotional pain was even worse. The dream of becoming a doctor, of living a normal independent life, was gone in a single moment.

Yet Ameneh did not give up.

She took Majid to court. Under Iranian law, she had the right to qisas—a form of justice that allows the victim to demand the same injury be done to the attacker. That meant Majid could legally be blinded the same way he had blinded her.

The entire country—and the world—watched the case closely. Many people were angry. Many believed Majid deserved exactly what he had done. Even Ameneh herself, for a long time, felt consumed by anger and the desire for revenge. After all, her entire life had been stolen from her.

Then the day came when Majid was supposed to be blinded.

The hospital room was full. Doctors, officials, and journalists were all present. Majid sat on the bed, terrified, knowing what was about to happen. His eyes were open, waiting for the punishment that would change his life forever.

And then Ameneh did something no one expected.

She stopped the punishment.

She said,

“I have lost my eyes, but I do not want to take someone else’s sight. I do not want to add more darkness to this world.”

She forgave the man who had destroyed her life.

The room fell silent. Some people cried. Others could not understand how someone who had suffered so much could still choose mercy over revenge.

Today, Ameneh Bahrami still lives without sight. She still carries the scars of that terrible day. Her pain is real and permanent. But her story is not only one of tragedy—it is a story of incredible human strength.

She lost her eyes,

but she did not lose her soul.

In a world that often demands revenge,

Ameneh chose compassion.

And that is her greatest victory. 🕊️