Sylvie Claire / December 29, 2022
When you watch this video, I will be dead": an Iranian man committed suicide on Monday by throwing himself into the Rhone River in Lyon, in order, he said in a posthumous video, to draw attention to the situation in his country shaken by demonstrations.
The Iranian was found drowned, Monday at the end of the day, said the police to AFP, confirming a report of the local newspaper Le Progrès.
The man, aged 38 years according to his video, could not be revived despite the intervention of firefighters, who brought him on the bank, the same source said.
For the past two months, Iran has been experiencing a wave of protest unprecedented since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. It was born of demands for women's rights after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for wearing the Islamic veil improperly.
The demonstrations for women's freedom have gradually turned into a broader movement against the Islamic regime.
The authorities, who denounced the protests as "riots," arrested thousands of people and sentenced a dozen to death for their involvement in the protests.
The police are attacking people, we have lost many sons and daughters, we must do something", says in a calm voice the man in his video posted on several social networks before committing the irreparable.
"I decided to commit suicide in the Rhone River, it is a challenge to show that we, the Iranian people, we are very tired of this situation," he said.
"When you watch this video, I will be dead", he continues, before calling to support the Iranian people in their struggle against "police and an extremely violent government ».
Calls for a rally late Tuesday afternoon in downtown Lyon, to pay tribute to him, have been launched on social networks.
At the beginning of December, the Iranian government made a gesture towards the demonstrators, by announcing the dissolution of the morality police. But in the wake of this, the authorities executed by hanging two young men convicted in connection with the demonstrations.