An Iranian ex-pat has drowned himself in France in a protest against the crackdown by the regime in his homeland on demonstrators.
In a chilling video, student Mohammad Moradi, 38, poses in front of the River Rhone flowing through Lyon and says: “By the time you watch this video, I’ll be drowning in this river.”
His body was discovered in the river late on 26th December.
In an emotional video, he said: “I am not committing suicide because of my personal problems, I am committing suicide to draw the European countries and European citizens’ attention to the issues of Iran.”
He went on: “The reality is that fact I’m not willing to continue to live a contented life either inside or outside Iran while others suffer.
“I say that even though I had and still have a good income here, although I live a peaceful life and breathe clean air year, although people here are very civilised and reasonable in dealing with others, although the police and politicians are very reasonable, compared to our country’s police and politicians.
“But none of these good things I have are reason enough for me to turn a blind eye on the problems of Iran, and my compatriots.
“For that reason, I’d rather die than see my people live such a sad life.
“And I hope my death will draw the attention of at least some of the foreign media.
“I also hope that it will convey a message to the people of Iran so that they don’t think that Iranians abroad do not share their grief, and if it comes to it, we will sacrifice our lives for them.
“I’d sacrifice my life a thousand times over for Iran and the people of Iran.”
Moradi assured watchers he had no mental health problems.
He said: “I have no mental illness or problem, and do this just to show my solidarity with the tragedy of my people.”
He added he was doing it for “the loss of love, and important things like humanity”.
He went on: “Human dignity is a very very important concern of mine, which I am willing to give my life for.
“Women, life, freedom – the main slogan of the revolutionaries. You will prevail.
“Do not be sad and rejoice the day of victory is near.”
French authorities have confirmed they are investigating the man’s death as a possible suicide.
His body was recovered by emergency services, who found it under the water trapped in a tree branch.
Protests have been ongoing in Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly failing to wear the hijab properly.
The suicide death shocked many people locally, with a small gathering in his memory organised on the banks of the river on Tuesday, 27th December.
He had reportedly studied history and had a job in a restaurant and lived in the city with his wife, who he married three years ago.
