A tragic incident has emerged from the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr, where a young man identified as Poorya Hamidi reportedly took his own life after sharing a final video message on social media. In the video, which spans 10 minutes and 44 seconds, Hamidi directly addressed US President Donald Trump, pleading with the American administration to refrain from entering into any diplomatic negotiations or deals with the current Iranian leadership. The video was uploaded to his YouTube channel, 'PoorY X', on February 5, shortly before reports of his death surfaced.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of severe internal unrest and a sustained crackdown on dissent within Iran. Hamidi’s message highlighted the desperation felt by many Iranian youths who have participated in or supported the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement. In his video, titled 'This is my sacrifice – please, free my country,' he claimed that the scale of the domestic crackdown has resulted in casualties exceeding those of major international conflicts, though these figures remain unverified by independent monitors.
Final Message to the US Administration
Recorded primarily in English, Hamidi’s video served as a direct appeal to the White House. He argued that any diplomatic engagement with the government led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would constitute a 'betrayal' of those who have died during street protests. He specifically mentioned that Iranians had placed their trust in President Trump’s rhetoric regarding support for the Iranian people and urged the US to take a firmer stance against the clerical establishment.
Despair Over Domestic Crackdown and Casualties
Hamidi expressed a profound sense of hopelessness regarding the possibility of internal change without external assistance. He stated that unarmed civilians can't effectively combat the state's security apparatus. According to his testimony, the lack of a foreseeable future for the youth in Iran has led to widespread psychological distress. He described his own inability to eat or sleep due to the ongoing situation, framing his suicide as a desperate attempt to bring international attention to the plight of his fellow citizens.
Support for Exiled Leadership and Political Change
The video also featured Hamidi’s endorsement of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah of Iran, as a potential leader for a transitional government. He called upon Iranians to remain united and support one another in the face of state pressure. Analysts suggest that such public displays of dissent, even in their most tragic forms, underscore the deep-seated political polarization within the country and the perceived failure of domestic reform movements.
According to human rights monitors, the Iranian government has recently intensified its efforts to silence activists, while this includes the extension of the prison sentence for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and the arrest of family members of prominent dissidents. Hamidi’s death is seen by observers as a manifestation of the extreme pressure faced by individuals who oppose the state’s policies but find no legal or safe outlet for their grievances.
Ultimately, the case of Poorya Hamidi has drawn renewed focus to the human rights situation in Iran and the complex geopolitical dynamics involving the United States. While the US administration has not officially responded to this specific appeal, the incident adds to the growing body of evidence regarding the internal crisis in Iran. The international community continues to monitor the situation as the Iranian government maintains its strict stance on internal security and political dissent.
