A former Iranian political prisoner has said she felt like she was 'back in Iran' after being knocked unconscious by a police riot shield during a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London.
‘A Horrible Experience’ at the Embassy
The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, 11 January 2026, during a pro-democracy rally. Nasrin Roshan, 62, was in the front row of protesters at around 5pm when a man climbed the embassy building and tore down the Iranian regime's flag.
Ms Roshan, who has spent a total of five and a half years in Iranian prisons since the age of 18, was in the crowd as others tried to help the man escape. She claims that police then moved in aggressively.
'The police attacked with batons and other things,' she told Metro. 'I think a police shield hit my head and I fell to the floor.' She insists she 'tried nothing' with officers and remained behind metal railings.
Hospital Treatment and Lasting Trauma
The activist lost consciousness and woke up on the road, where she was treated by paramedics. An ambulance arrived 45 minutes later and took her to hospital. She was discharged at 5am on Monday, suffering from chest pain and exhaustion.
'It was horrible. I felt like I was in Iran,' Ms Roshan said. 'I cannot believe the police would do that. I do not feel like I am in the UK, in a democratic country... I want to complain, they have to apologise.'
She linked the ordeal to her past trauma, stating she is still feeling emotional pain from her experiences in Iranian jails. Ms Roshan was most recently arrested in Tehran in November 2023 and sentenced to four years on charges of 'assembly and collusion', serving one and a half years before her release.
Police Response and Ongoing Protests
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are aware a woman was injured during the protest. A spokesperson stated: 'She was attended to by officers and paramedics, and was taken to hospital, where her injuries were found to be non-life changing and non-life threatening.'
They added that officers carried out a review of available footage to determine how she was hurt, but it was inconclusive. The force said it was not aware of a formal complaint being made.
The protest is part of ongoing demonstrations against the Iranian regime, which human rights observers say have led to 490 protester and 48 security personnel deaths, alongside over 10,000 arrests in Iran. Ms Roshan remains an active campaigner against the Tehran government.
