Somayeh Mehri (29) walks with her daughter Rana Afghanipour

The Love of a Mother and Her 3 Year-old Daughter, who Were Attacked With Acid by Their Husband/Father

Kindness, Kindness Needed, Kindness Photos, Kindness Reflections 75 comments

Somayeh Mehri (29) and Rana Afghanipour (3) are a mother and daughter living in Bam, southern Iran.

They were attacked with acid by Somayeh’s husband Amir.

Somayeh Mehri (29) with her daughter Rana Afghanipour
Somayeh Mehri (29) and her daughter Rana Afghanipour (3) give each other a kiss. Since their disfigurement in an acid attack, they say, others don’t like to kiss them.

Somayeh had frequently been beaten and locked up by her husband, and finally found the courage to ask for a divorce. Amir warned her that if she persisted in her attempts to leave him, she would not live out life with the face she had.

One night in June 2011, he poured acid on Somayeh and Rana as they slept. Somayeh’s and Rana’s faces, hands, and, in places, their bodies were severely burned. Somayeh was blinded, and Rana lost one of her eyes.

Somayeh Mehri (29) and Rana Afghanipour

Somayeh’s father sold his land in order to raise money to pay their medical expenses, and fellow villagers have also helped.

http://www.worldpressphoto.org/awards/2013/observed-portraits/ebrahim-noroozI

If you want to help, please check into http://www.acidviolence.org. As always, do your research before giving, but they seem to be one of the few charities dealing with this type of shameful incident.

Ebrahim Noroozi
Nationality: Iran
About: Ebrahim Noroozi was born in 1980 in Tehran, Iran. He began working as a professional photographer in 2004, with Fars News Agency.

Read more about this photographer

75 comments

    1. Where was your “God” at the time the husband poured acid in the face of his wife and his daughter while they slept ? A “God” who let such things happen is disgusting.

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      1. God isn’t here to give you hand outs or hold your hand. He will guide you though my son, believe and pray for them. God will bless your soul

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          1. I despair of the family solidarity, I fear for the love family hould have for each other and the support and protection they should show. For family members to do this, not just to the mother but the poor child is unconscionable and makes me ill. If the father had done this, and claimed, heat of passion or some other (sorry – pathetic excuse), I would have toaccept it grudgingly. I don’t feel any other family memeber has a viable reason for this barbarity.
            I have seen so much of this recently I have truly been ill with it and feel that perhaps, the only way they can learn, if at all ( I know this is not the answer), is if they coud feel the pain of their targets.
            I know forgiveness and understanding bring better and longer lasting results. The father is doing all he can, but the family – I just cannot understand their thinking. I cnnot find kindness in me for their attitude.
            Sorry – confused and rambling answer, I hope you understand. 🙂

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  5. An old Chinese proverb is the basis for the title of Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book “Half the Sky.” Women hold up half the sky, so we need to treat women well or the sky might fall. Not only is it the right thing to do, but by treating women as equals (or at a minimum with human decency and respect), a community will flourish. In my view, no laws or religious interpretations should condone or tolerate this kind of treatment of women and children. Religious texts may have been divinely inspired, but they were written, interpreted and translated by imperfect men. Both of those final two words are important says this “imperfect man.” BTG

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  7. Reblogged this on Rants of an AP Student and commented:
    To all activist who are involved with human civil rights concerning women’s freedom and better laws, please read this teary blog post about life for a mother (29) and her daughter (3) after being attacked with acid by their husband/father. I, for one, is just disgusted by the fact that someone would even think about doing that. Yet, in the midst of this tragedy, the mother and daughter are still alive and are happy to be together. It’s a heart warming story to read but, it’s tough lesson is bestowed upon us, so please do think about the fact of the matter.

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  8. Pingback: Abusive Acid Attacks Against Women & Children, and an Organization Trying To Help | Illuminate
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  10. Reblogged this on Curly Bookworm and commented:
    Haunting and horrible! Yet, I can see the beauty of the mother radiating despite her ruined face and deep pain inside. It’s ironic that I can see the vibrant smile of Rana. She’s an angelic creature!

    These portraits speak a million words. Reality of an abusive, ill-passion driven husband. Does he have a heart? Yeah, maybe already petrified one. This is a post of miracles! The unconditional love of the mother, the innocence of the child, the grievous and hideous consequence of SIN, and God’s presence and intervention.

    “Where is God when it hurts?” This question reverberated again.
    He’s there.

    If I were much hurt with this documentary post, how much more her family, their true family? My prayers ascend for them and the fund raising campaign, much more for justice!

    I commend Ebraim for his exceptional shots and expertise! I support your cause!

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  11. Was that bud (the husband – I cannot call him human been) brought to justice?
    Is it any way we can help them? The information about that found for these victims is general, I wish to know if it is any way to THEM directly…

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    2. I just found more info about their case: http://www.kweeper.com/fanny/image/432052

      There is another very impressive picture on this website: Rana in the garden of his grandfather’s house…she is wearing a T-shirt on which is written the word “Love”….Speechless!

      http://teluguvartalu.com/2013/03/09/%E0%B0%88-%E0%B0%A4%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%80-%E0%B0%95%E0%B1%82%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B3%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%BF-%E0%B0%86%E0%B0%AE%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B2-%E0%B0%A6%E0%B1%81/somayeh-mehri-29-her-3-year-old-daughter-rana-03/

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  13. Reblogged this on Vancouver Visions and commented:
    If anyone out there who is reading this has seen the images attached to this Reblog before they’ve had a chance to read these words (I don’t reblog often enough to know exactly how it works), please know you have my apologies if you were shocked in any way. If these words did get to you before the images, then know that what follows is very explicit, and could be very disturbing to a young child, and truly, even an adult. They are images of an Iranian woman and her child who were the victims of an acid attack by the woman’s husband, the child’s father. As horrendous as the images are, I see them as images of love. The first image alone is of the woman and child kissing and the caption is the woman’s words as she explains that her and the child like to kiss because since the attack, no one else like’s to kiss them. When I read those words, I cried. So hopefully, if my words have come before the pictures, you now have the chance to prepare yourselves for what follows. But the way I see it, if this woman was willing to let the world see her in this condition with the hope that it would somehow help others in her country, the least we can do is honor her wish by observing what she and her child, and many others in her country, and many other countries, have had to suffer through, as they wait for change to come.

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  16. Pingback: 357. Supporting victims of acid attacks | Changing the world every day

  18. I strongly deplore this barbaric act by that animal. I wish I could do something for the small child who has just began her life. I am sure the plastic surgery will aid in undoing the damage done.

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  19. All I can do now is to send my kisses to both the mother and daughter via prayers and hope. I’m a mother and my youngest is a 4-year-old girl. My heart melts when I see the pic of the girl kissing her mom. I really wish I could do more for the little girl, and also her mother, if possible. If anyone knows of any way to send a card or something, or appropriate toys or books in their language … other than a general donation to an organization, please, please, let me (and I’m sure many reading this) know. LET ME KNOW. We want to help!!! There has to be more meaning to blogging and bringing such news to others’ awareness, and that’s to get real help and kindness to those who need it.

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    1. If you’d like to help her, I’ve set up a donations appeal and gofundme account and am actively involved in making it public as much as I can . Please help me in this endeavour ! Please help me to help Somayeh&Rana! With ❤️ Silvia

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  26. If you want to help them, please read my FB post and kindly donate. Unfortunately acidviolence.org has no partner organisation in Iran. Please get involved . Together we can help them and make a change for their future. ❤️ Silvia

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      1. Hi Silvia! I just read this site and Somayah’s sad story yesterday. I started search about them, and I found on iranwire.com that Somayah’s died in a hospital . The article is; Grieving father speaks about acid- attack. ( the grandfather or Somayah’s s father who is taking care of the little girls of Somayah’s). It’s heart breaking story. She died because her lungs couldn’t work anymore.;-(( I am thinking to try to get in contact with the writer of the article ( who seems to be in touch with Somayah’s father). I really would like to help them or donate, or set up a fundraiser or a facebook page,and give some happiness to them.

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  28. Pingback: LOL!! Those wacky Muslims!! | murderbymedia2

  30. This picture is at once horrific and beautiful. In fact, the love and hope that I see shown between the mother and daughter may make it
    one of the most beautiful pictures that I have ever seen. I saw it for the first time several months ago, and as a single
    mother of a young girl who
    means the world to me, this photo haunts me. I wish these two nothing but the best, and I hope that their lives have improved and they never lose sight of their love for each other, and are comforted by that and the great love and admiration that everyone who sees this picture, cannot help but feel for
    them.

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  32. Absolutely horrendous story, amazing though that despite all the pain the young girl still showed her love for her mother.

    RIP Somayeh Mehri

    Hopefully Rana Afghanipour can make a reasonable recovery and she can get justice for what happened to her and her mother.

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  33. Reblogged this on The Forever Years and commented:

    Similar incidents to this happened in Vietnam when I lived there… one by a boy who was rejected by a girl (and then threw acid in her face) and one by a “loan shark” who threw acid over a young baby when his mother was unable to repay her debts. Such incidents, anywhere in the world, are shameful, particularly when the victims are frequently young women and children. A worthy charity to support, as this kind of violence, and it’s life long scars, is not often spoken about…

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  34. Reblogged this on sethi51. RIP Somayeh Mehri . You are blessed and may God be with you . It is heart rending and there is vast emptiness within . These acid attacks are a regular feature in all male dominated societies all over the world . What needs to be done is to pressurize the Governments to act and bring in legislation supporting the victims and also to ensure that the attacker is brought to justice and put behind bars for life . it is also essential to change the mindset of such societies which is easier said than done , however it can be done with patience , perseverance and inner strength .

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  37. Thank you for sharing this, I very much hope the husband will be brought to justice, though I guess it’s unlikely. It would be interesting to look at the underlying causes for this kind of psychotic, women-hating, abusive and violent behaviour. And to question why men get away with it, no matter in which kind of society they live.
    Without wanting to excuse the abominable actions of the husband, my guess is that he’s been abominably abused himself and carries his pain, shame and anger forward, taking it out on a weaker victim (wife and child) he thinks he owns and controls. A vicious circle of transferred abuse which is extremely difficult to break.

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  39. They have almost nothing left in their lives except for each other.! They say people [would think of them as freaks] won’t kiss [love] them. If it were possible, I’d kiss them right now. No human shall go through the pain the duo has endured in their life. Everyone living on the planet, whether its a person, a plant or an animal, deserves to be loved. Nobody is a freak until people start treating them as such. Let them be loved.

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  40. I have no words for the power of these images and words right now. But I know without a doubt that they have changed my heart in deep ways. Thank you.

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  41. Reblogged this on Booksbyjameswnelson and commented:

    But, you say, all muslims would not do this. You are probably correct, but this is the culture. By sharia law husbands are pretty much allowed to do what they want if their wife and/or daughter displease them. What happened to this mother and daughter should horrify all who see it.

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  44. Can anybody please contact me with information about how we can help Rana.My wife and i would like to help in any way with this child.

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  46. Please can I make all readers aware of this https://www.facebook.com/SomayehandRana/
    Please read through the timeline what has been achieved so far.
    Help is still needed at all times and although I’ve managed to collect a fair amount of donations towards Rana’s cosmetic plastic surgery in the future, it has come to light that her sister Nazanin has been also severly burned on her upper body, arm and leg. So far, the focus has been mainly on Rana as she’s sustained severe injuries that are visible. Should the appeal be able to raise a surplus of the initially hoped for £10K, then that surplus will be transferred to Mr. Mehri, their grandfather and custodian , for the girls daily needs. Please be aware that those girls are effectively orphans now. With thanks , Silvia (page admin and organiser)

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