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From the International Emergency Campaign to Free Iran’s Political Prisoners NOW (IEC)

Iran’s Torture of Baluchi Dancer Sparks Dramatic Reenactments Around the Globe

Diverse, creative acts commemorate Khodanour Lejei

Editors’ note: We received the following from the International Emergency Campaign to Free Iran’s Political Prisoners NOW.

Sanandaj Unversity, Kurdistan, Iran.

 

Sanandaj Unversity, Kurdistan, Iran   

The brutal death of Khodanour Lejei (or Lajai) at the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran has touched a raw nerve across the globe. Below are the more accurate details of his death that our volunteers uncovered and is a correction of our earlier write-up about him, as well as photos and videos of some of a few of the different actions touched off by the news of his life and death.

Our previous coverage stated that Khodanour was “shackled to a pole, wounded, and allowed to bleed to death” for the crime of dancing. In fact, Khodanour was shot during the regime's massacre at a peaceful demonstration and prayers in Zahedan (in the oppressed minority province of Baluchistan and Sistan) on September 30, in which about 100 people were murdered in cold blood by snipers on rooftops. After the regime refused to allow the hospital to treat him, he bled out and died on October 2—his 27th birthday. It was actually months earlier that he was wounded, tortured and shackled to a pole, a glass of water cruelly placed just out of his reach. The police spread the shackled photo of him with the intent to humiliate him and spread fear. Instead, images of him joyfully dancing, as well as that of him shackled, have inspired protests and artistic expressions worldwide, ranging from single individuals to choreographed installations.

This unity with a Baluchi protester is especially crucial given that Baluchistan continues to be a target of vicious repression. As of November 28, 15 Baluchi prisoners were executed in just 15 days.

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IEC volunteers re-enact Khodanour shackling, distribute flyers at busy Embarcadero district, San Francisco.

 

IEC volunteers re-enact Khodanour shackling, distribute flyers at busy Embarcadero district, San Francisco.    Photo: IEC volunteers

Khodanour Lajei, being tortured by being shackled to a pole.

 

Khodanour Lajei, being tortured by being shackled to a pole. He was killed on October 2, 2022.   

Montreal, McGill University: protest for Khodanour.

 

Montreal, McGill University: protest for Khodanour.   

Paris, France: protest in support of Iranian political prisoners

 

Paris, France: protest in support of Iranian political prisoners.    Photo: ig

Kurdistan: goal scorer protests in support of political prisoners in Iran.

 

Kurdistan: Goal scorer protests in support of political prisoners in Iran.   

Fashion show model shows support for Khodanour

 

Fashion show model  in red shows support for Khodanour.   

Bologna, Italy: Protester in support of tortured Iranian Khodanour.

 

Bologna, Italy: Protester in support of tortured Iranian Khodanour.    Photo: ig

Lajihan, Iran, statue of Khodanour shackled to pole.

 

Lajihan, Iran, statue of Khodanour shackled to pole.    Photo: ig

Perth, Australia: protest against torture of Khondanour, Iranian tortured and killed.

 

Perth, Australia: protest against torture of Khondanour, Iranian tortured and killed.    Photo: ig