Man dies in Iran after burning picture of leader Khamenei
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Omid Sarlak was found dead in western Iran shortly after posting a video burning Supreme Leader Khamenei's image; while police said suicide, the public and his friends instantly labeled it as a "state killing".
- Public outrage transformed Sarlak's funeral in Aligoudarz into a mass political protest, with mourners openly chanting "Death to Khamenei".
The death of a young Iranian man in the western city of Aligoudarz, Lorestan province, has sparked a fresh wave of anti-government outrage, transforming his funeral into a mass political protest against the Islamic Republic’s supreme authority.
Omid Sarlak, 27, was found dead inside a vehicle near a local stadium on Saturday.
A day before his body was discovered with a gunshot wound and a handgun nearby, Sarlak posted an Instagram story showing himself burning a picture of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The accompanying message was posted using the hashtag #DeathToKhamenei
Sarlak wrote: “How long humiliation, how long poverty, how long being exploited. Now is the time to show yourself, young man”.
Conflicting Narratives
The rapid announcement of Sarlak’s death by authorities was immediately challenged by activists and the public, fueling suspicions of an extra-judicial killing.
Ali Asadollahi, the Aligoudarz Police Commander, confirmed the finding of the body and was quoted claiming, “This person committed suicide with a handgun”. He noted that the case had been referred to forensic detectives to investigate the cause and motive.
However, this official verdict was vehemently rejected by Sarlak’s friends and the wider community. Ebrahim Es-haghi, a wrestler and associate of previously executed protesters, released a video statement describing the death as “suspicious”.
Es-haghi further disclosed that Sarlak had contacted him shortly before his death, explicitly warning that his life might be in danger.
Social media users quickly branded the death a "state killing".
Funeral Turns into Rally
The public anger reached a flashpoint on Monday when Sarlak’s funeral in Aligoudarz transformed into a demonstration. Mourners openly defied security measures by chanting explicit slogans directed at Iran’s leadership.
Large crowds chanted, “Death to Khamenei,” a direct call for the overthrow of the Supreme Leader and the clerical system.
Burning or insulting the Supreme Leader is classified as a serious offense under the Iranian Penal Code, which can carry lengthy prison sentences.
