A 33-second video posted on Instagram reveals a younger man wearing black setting a portrait of Islamic Republic chief Ayatollah Khamenei on fireplace. As the pictures flared, the voice of the late Iranian King Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was heard, saying, “I increase larger the flag of the Iranian Empire, extra wonderful than ever, and hand it over to the long run Shahanshah of Iran. Then he too will increase it proudly and honorably and move it on to his successor. Eternal Iran has given me satisfaction, and the Iranian nation will turn into extra noble, highly effective, and extra energetic.” ”
“How lengthy has the humiliation been? How lengthy has the poverty lasted? Young folks, it is time to make the leap,” Omid Sarlak from Alighdars, Lorestan province, wrote in an accompanying social media submit. Twelve hours later, Sarlak’s bruised and lifeless physique was discovered contained in the automotive.
The Fars information company claimed, with out proof, that Sarlak was distraught over a “romantic disappointment” and that the gun present in his automotive was his.
However, his household and human rights activists rejected the official account, calling it a cover-up. In a extensively shared video, Sarlacc’s father pointed to the spot the place his son was discovered and repeated, “They killed my champion right here.”
“Omid Sarlak didn’t commit suicide. The scene was staged by the regime,” former police officer Fariborz Karamizand mentioned, referring to a photograph of Sarlak’s bloody physique within the automotive. He added that there’s proof to counsel Mr Sarlak was killed outdoors his automotive, his physique was then positioned contained in the automotive and a gun was positioned in his leg to feign suicide.
At Sarlaq’s funeral on November 3, hundreds of mourners chanted “Death to Khamenei” and skim poems from the Shahnameh, a symbolic act of cultural defiance in opposition to the theocratic regime.
Some held placards studying “This withered flower is a present to the motherland,” and chanted “I’ll kill the one who killed my brother,” reflecting the anger and unhappiness of native residents. The heavy safety presence signaled authorities issues that the funeral might flip right into a riot.
In a message launched on the day of the funeral, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi condemned the killing. He referred to as on patriots to “broaden our group and put together for the ultimate battle whereas adhering to security measures.”
“Omid Sarlaq was a hero within the custom of Ariobarzan, Surena and Arash the Archers, a courageous man who stood up in opposition to the tyranny of the Islamic Republic and gave his life for the liberty of Iran,” Pahlavi mentioned. “To the household and associates of Omid Sarlak. Stay robust and resolute. The day of justice is at hand. I stand with you on this battle.”
A Farsi-language report from the US State Department additionally condemned the killing and mentioned: “The United States stands steadfastly with the Iranian folks of their battle for justice, dignity, and freedom.” “The United States strongly condemns the horrific loss of life of Omid Sarlaq, a younger Iranian whose bullet-riddled physique was present in Alighdarz shortly after posting an anti-regime message on social media,” the assertion learn.
Meanwhile, the day after Sarlaq was buried, Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Council of Experts, condemned every kind of threats in opposition to Khamenei, describing it as waging battle in opposition to Mohalebe, or God, and stressing that such acts are punishable by loss of life.
Sarlak’s loss of life sparked a social media marketing campaign by activists with the hashtag #IAmOmidSarlakToo. Activists shared movies of burning effigies of Khamenei. Among them was actor Hamid Faroknezad, who declared: “In reminiscence of the immortal Omid Sarlaq, we overthrew the oppressive regime.”