Iranian archer, Kosar Khoshnoudikia says ‘no regrets’ after losing eye at protest

Kosar Khoshnoudikia, a member of Iran’s national archery team, who had lost sight in her left eye after being shot by security forces has said she has “no regrets” for participating in nationwide protests.

According to the Norway-based rights group Hengaw, Kosar Khoshnoudikia, a member of Iran’s national archery team, was shot at a rally last year in her hometown of Kermanshah, in the Kurdish-populated west.

In a video, Khoshnoudikia said, “I have felt no regrets for being there on that day, at that time.”

Khoshnoudikia, who was not wearing a headscarf and had her left eye covered by a patch, stated in the video that she was shot in early December while attending a march in Kermanshah with her father.

“Three shots hit my right hand and one shot hit my left eye,” she explained, adding that her father was also shot in the hand.

Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have accused Iranian security forces of partially or completely blinding a number of protesters while firing live ammunition and metal pellets at close range.

Khoshnoudikia, who won silver in the compound bow women’s team event at the 2021 Asian Archery Championships, did not say whether she expected to return to sports.

According to Hengaw, despite multiple operations, she has permanently lost sight in her left eye.