Nasrin Roshan, a 62-year-old former political prisoner, experienced a chilling echo of her past when she was allegedly struck by a police shield during a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London. The incident left her unconscious and shaken, triggering painful memories of her years spent imprisoned in Iran.
The pro-democracy activist was participating in a rally when police clashed with demonstrators on Sunday. A man had climbed the embassy and removed the Iranian flag, following a similar act the previous day. Amidst the escalating tension, Ms. Roshan claims she was knocked to the ground by a police shield, losing consciousness for a significant period.
“It was horrible,” she recounted, her voice still laced with distress. “I felt like I was in Iran. I could not speak until four o’clock in the hospital.” The experience left her deeply disturbed, questioning her safety even within a country she believed offered refuge.
Ms. Roshan, who endured a total of five and a half years in Iranian prisons beginning at age 18, remembers lying on the ground for 45 minutes before an ambulance arrived. She was treated by paramedics at the scene before being transported to the hospital, where she remained until 5 a.m. the following morning.
The physical pain – chest discomfort and debilitating fatigue – is compounded by the emotional trauma. She describes feeling betrayed by the very authorities meant to protect her, a stark contrast to the freedom she sought in the UK. “I want to complain, they have to apologise,” she stated firmly.
Her history of activism and imprisonment in Iran has been marked by hardship. Beyond her initial four-year sentence, she was arrested again in 2023 while visiting family and sentenced to another four years, though ultimately released after a year and a half. She described her recent detention as a form of “mental torture,” detailing denial of medication and inadequate medical care.
Now actively involved in protests against the Iranian regime, Ms. Roshan is acutely aware of the ongoing struggle for freedom within Iran itself. Reports indicate hundreds of protesters and security personnel have been killed, with thousands more arrested in the widespread unrest.
The Metropolitan Police stated they are aware of the incident and that officers attended to the injured woman. A review of available footage was inconclusive in determining how she sustained her injuries, and they are unaware of any formal complaint having been filed.
For Ms. Roshan, the incident is a stark reminder of the oppression she thought she had left behind. It has reignited the emotional pain of her past, leaving her questioning her sense of security and demanding accountability from the authorities.
