Her life shifted irrevocably on October 16, 2014.
It was the most mundane of appointments – attending the dentist.
Marzieh Ebrahimi had just parked her car when two men doused her face in a corrosive acid.
Marzieh is Iranian. She was attacked in Isfahan.
That year, 25 acid attacks were reported to authorities. The victims were all women.
The perpetrators were conservative religious vigilantes trying to intimidate women into dressing modestly.
Widespread protests were held, but only four people were arrested.
Acid attacks happen worldwide.
Perpetrators use a corrosive liquid to permanently disfigure the victim.
They target faces because looks are a woman’s currency for marriage, children and protection across some societies.
It’s a deeply debilitating form of violence.
Survivors often face life-long social isolation, stigma and economic hardship.

As Marzieh regained her health, she lived in fear.
“My family was concerned with finding the attacker and worried about me regaining my health,” she says.
“But more than anything else, they were worried about how I was going to handle this, considering how sensitive I was about my face and beauty.”
It is unlikely Marzieh will see justice.
“I never saw them. I don’t know what they look like. I don’t know how old they are,” she says.
“I don’t know if they had a problem with me or with my hijab.
“But I do know one thing very well: I want to talk to them. I want to see them and stare into their eyes, and ask them: ‘Why? Why an acid attack? Why me?’.”
Marzieh has dedicated her life to ending acid attacks and violence.
“It is our right to walk in the streets of our city without any fear,” she says.
“It is our right to live without terror. We are not hostages. We are citizens.”

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