Iranian Youth Found Shot Dead After Burning Khamenei’s Picture

An Iranian youth has been found shot dead a few days after posting a photo on social media showing the burning of a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The deceased, Omid Sarlak, was a resident of Lorestan province in western Iran.

On Friday, Sarlak posted a photo on Instagram showing him setting fire to a picture of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a forest. Within a week, he was found dead.

The state-run news agency IRNA reported, quoting Ali Asadollahi, chief of police in Aligudarz city, that the youth’s body was found in a car with a pistol beside him. The police claimed he had shot himself.

However, on Monday, attendees at Sarlak’s funeral chanted slogans such as “He was murdered” and “We want Khamenei dead.” Videos of the protests at the funeral spread on social media. Externally operated opposition media outlets Iran International and Radio Farda broadcast these videos.

In another video shared on social media, Sarlak’s father is seen crying and saying, “They have killed my son.” Later, in an interview with local television, he stated, “Do not believe what you see on social media.”

Source: AFP

Khaborwala/TSN