Islam's Acid Attacks: Lives Changed in Seconds

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Summary: Marzieh Ebrahimi was 25 when she became one of the victims of a series of acid attacks against women in Isfahan, Iran, in October 2014.

The assault caused severe injuries, including permanent damage to her face and the loss of a cornea. Rather than retreat from public life, Ebrahimi became an advocate for survivors, speaking openly about her experience and pushing for greater protections against acid violence.

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At 25, Marzieh Ebrahimi was living an ordinary life in Isfahan, Iran. Then, in October 2014, she became one of the victims of a series of acid attacks that targeted women in the city.

The assault would permanently change her appearance and affect her eyesight, but it did not end her public life. In the years that followed, Ebrahimi became an outspoken advocate for survivors of acid violence and a prominent voice in discussions about women's rights in Iran.

The 2014 Attack

Ebrahimi was attacked in Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran, during a period when several women were assaulted with acid. Reports from the time said attackers riding motorcycles targeted women in and around the city. At least four victims were identified in early reporting, although other accounts placed the number of attacks higher.

Ebrahimi later described how quickly the incident changed her life. She had been in her car when the attack occurred. The assailants were not known to her, and she said she never saw their faces.

The injuries were severe. Ebrahimi suffered extensive damage to her face and body, including the loss of the cornea in one eye. Her recovery required medical treatment and left lasting physical effects.

From Survivor to Advocate

For Ebrahimi, recovery eventually became about more than medical treatment. She began speaking publicly about what happened and challenged the shame that often surrounds people who survive devastating injuries.

Reports claimed women had been selected because of how they wore the hijab. The motive of the attackers remained a contentious issue.

Ebrahimi later appeared publicly without attempting to hide the scars left by the assault. She also advocated for stronger protections against acid attacks and greater attention to the rights of survivors.

Her story is therefore about more than one violent crime. It is about what happened after the headlines faded — rebuilding a life, confronting stigma and refusing to let an attack determine the rest of her identity. It's also about Islamic tolerance of intolerance targeting women.

Meanwhile, in Western countries, misguided women obscure the true meaning of feminism by encouraging the invasion of Islam. Oppressive Islamic dress codes are normalized by Hollywood. Women donned in hijabs are prominently featured.

A Lasting Voice

Ebrahimi's experience made her one of the best-known survivors of the 2014 Isfahan attacks. Her public advocacy has kept attention on the consequences of acid violence and the difficult path survivors can face long after their physical wounds have healed.

Recent cases show a continuing pattern of violence

Concerned that some might assume the attacks were confined to 2014, I conducted an extensive online search for more recent incidents. Acid attacks have continued to injure women in several Muslim-majority countries, with reported cases in Iran, Pakistan and Bangladesh during 2025 and 2026. The incidents have involved alleged domestic disputes, family conflicts, harassment and, in some cases, motives that remained unclear.

Iran: A woman and her son injured

In Javanroud, Kermanshah Province, Iran, 25-year-old Mehri Abdolghaderi was severely injured in an acid attack allegedly carried out by her husband in June 2025.

IranWire reported that Abdolghaderi had been seeking a separation and that her husband had previously threatened her with an acid attack. Her 8-year-old son was also burned while attempting to help his mother.

Abdolghaderi suffered serious injuries to her face and hands and lost sight in one eye. She required multiple surgeries following the attack. Her husband reportedly took her to a hospital before fleeing.

Pakistan: Doctor among victims

Pakistan recorded several serious cases in 2026.

In Quetta, Balochistan Province, a female doctor was seriously injured at the Provincial Civil Hospital in June after a hospital employee allegedly threw acid on her. Hospital officials said about 70% of her body was affected. She was later transferred for treatment in Karachi.

Police said the suspect fled and was subsequently killed in a police encounter while allegedly attempting to escape the area.

Another case occurred in Ghotki district, Sindh Province, where a 17-year-old girl, identified as Sharman, suffered severe burns to her face, eyes, chest and arms. Police said her male cousin allegedly attacked her after objecting to her family's possession of a mobile phone.

In September, a 35-year-old woman was injured in Karachi, Sindh Province, after an unidentified person allegedly threw acid at her. Police said burns affected about 15% of her face, neck and abdomen.

Bangladesh: Domestic disputes and harassment

Bangladesh has also reported multiple attacks.

In Habiganj District, 30-year-old Rubina Begum suffered severe facial burns in June 2026 after police said her former husband allegedly threw acid at her while she was returning from work. Police arrested the man later that night.

Earlier, in Natore District, a 70-year-old woman was seriously burned when attackers allegedly targeting her granddaughter threw acid at the younger woman. The granddaughter escaped serious injury, while her grandmother required hospitalization.

Bangladesh's Ain o Salish Kendra continues to track acid attacks as part of its violence-against-women statistics, publishing monthly and annual reports.

These cases demonstrate that acid violence remains a serious problem across Islamistan, with victims often facing not only immediate medical treatment but also long-term physical consequences.

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Sometimes I get things wrong. If you notice a significant error, please bring it to my attention in the comment section. While efforts have been made to verify the information presented in this article, some facts, dates, quotations, or interpretations may be inaccurate or incomplete.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Sources/related links:

IranWire — Marzieh Ebrahimi profile

The Guardian — 2014 Isfahan acid attacks

Al Jazeera — Iran investigation into acid attacks

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — Isfahan acid attacks

IranWire — Iranian Woman, Child Injured in Husband’s Acid Attack

Dawn — Female doctor injured in acid attack at Quetta hospital

Dawn — Woman suffers severe burns in acid attack in Ghotki

Dawn — Woman injured in acid attack in Karachi

The Daily Star — Woman sustains burns in acid attack by ex-husband

The Daily Star — 70-year-old woman burned in acid attack in Natore

Ain o Salish Kendra — Acid Violence Statistics