Mahdieh Ghavi
Mahdieh Ghavi - Victim of PS752 Flight
Born(1999-11-23)November 23, 1999
Tehran, Iran
DiedJanuary 8, 2020(2020-01-08) (aged 20)
Near Tehran, Iran
NationalityIranian
OccupationStudent
Known forVictim of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752

Mahdieh Ghavi (November 23, 1999 – January 8, 2020) was an Iranian student and one of the victims of the downing of Flight PS752. She was pursuing her education in biology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada, when she lost her life in the incident. Ghavi’s death, along with that of her sister, Masoumeh Ghavi, has become emblematic of the broader pursuit of accountability and justice for the victims of Flight PS752.

Early Life and Education

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Mahdieh Ghavi was born on November 23, 1999, in Tehran, Iran. She demonstrated academic excellence from a young age and initially pursued studies in pharmacy in Iran. With the support of her elder sister, Masoumeh Ghavi, Mahdieh transitioned to studying biology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada. She planned to build a career in the sciences, with aspirations of contributing to medical research.[1]

Connection to Flight PS752

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On January 8, 2020, Mahdieh Ghavi was aboard Flight PS752 with her sister, Masoumeh, en route to Canada following a holiday visit to Iran. The aircraft was downed by surface-to-air missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. All 176 passengers and crew on board were killed.[2]

Legacy and Advocacy

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On January 8, 2020, Mahdieh Ghavi, along with her sister and 174 others, perished when Flight PS752 was shot down shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. In the wake of the tragedy, family members and international organizations, including the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, have advocated for transparency and justice regarding the crime. The Ghavi sisters' deaths have come to symbolize the pursuit of accountability and remembrance for those lost in the downing of the civilian flight.[3][4]

Mahdieh and Masoumeh are buried together in the yard of Imamzadeh Saleh in Tajrish, Tehran, where their resting place serves as a site of remembrance.[1]

Context and Broader Impact

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The downing of Flight PS752 occurred amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States following the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike on January 3, 2020. This incident has been widely condemned internationally, and human rights organizations have criticized the lack of transparency in Iran's investigation of the attack.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mahdieh Ghavi". The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  2. ^ "Experts accuse Iran of rights violations in shooting down Ukraine airlines flight". UN News. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ^ a b "Iran: Ukraine Airline Victims' Families Harassed Abused". Human Rights Watch. 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ "Families Demand Accountability for PS752 Victims". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-11-12.