Noz’hat Shaban Azad was born in 1959 as the fifth child of the family. She was a top student at school and spent a lot of time studying her school books. She graduated in 1978 from high school and went on to attend Shiraz University as a Metallurgical Engineering major. In the ensuing months, the anti-Shah protests began and Noz’hat became actively involved in the rallies. She, along with a number of her friends, joined the demonstrations and went on strikes in the university to oppose the Pahlavi regime.
After the Islamic Revolution, Noz’hat became the representative of the Muslim Students of the Department of Engineering in the University of Shiraz. Later in 1980, her studies were delayed due to the Cultural Revolution and the three-year closure of the universities.
With the outbreak of the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, Noz’hat went to the war-torn cities to help the underprivileged people by educating them. In 1982, she was married to Fereidoun Abbasi and after the Cultural Revolution went back to the university.
Received her bachelor’s degree, they resided in Mashhad due to Dr. Abbasi’s university studies and then they resettled in Tehran. During those times, Noz’hat spent most of her time at home, managing the household affairs and her research projects.
To complete her post-graduate studies, Noz’hat sat for the University Entrance examination in 2006 and was accepted to study Industrial Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University. Having finished her studies, she was employed as an expert at the University.
On Monday 8 December 2010, Dr. Abbasi, Associated Professor of Radiation Application Department at Shahid Beheshti University, and his wife set off to work. On their way, a car pulled in front of them, and two terrorist members on a bike, approached their vehicle and attached a bomb to their car. Dr. Abbasi, seeing the bomb in the mirror, warned his wife and they both rushed out of the car.
A few moments later, a powerful explosion took place. A total of 17 pieces of shrapnel hit the body of Noz’hat and some wounding her husband’s chest and face. In the wake of the significant contribution of Dr. Abbasi to the advancement of research in Iran, the enemies, threatened by his remarkable works and achievements, began to monitor the scientific meetings of the country. Thus, Dr. Abbasi was officially added to the list of the UN Security Council sanctions in February 2006.