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 just 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 protestor is especially crucial given that Baluchistan continues to be a target of vicious repression. As of Nov 28, 15 Baluchi prisoners were executed in just 15 days.

See videos of reenactment below, and photos on the right column.

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