Jan 7
Omid Bagheri
Omid was a young man who chose the streets over Instagram. In his last Instagram stories, he wrote: “Instead of protesting on Instagram, come out into the streets.” Omid was the pillar of support for his mother and younger brother, and he was the family's breadwinner. He loved playing billiards. Throughout his life, he was an exceptionally gentle, kind, and compassionate young man. Everyone who knew him spoke of his kindness and his quiet nature. Omid always dreamed of leaving Iran and building a life abroad, but he could never afford the cost of emigrating.
- Age
- 33
- City
- Arak
- Date
- 2026-01-08
- All statuses
- Family report
Life story
Omid was a young man who chose the streets over Instagram. In his last Instagram stories, he wrote: “Instead of protesting on Instagram, come out into the streets.” Omid was the pillar of support for his mother and younger brother, and he was the family's breadwinner. He loved playing billiards. Throughout his life, he was an exceptionally gentle, kind, and compassionate young man. Everyone who knew him spoke of his kindness and his quiet nature. Omid always dreamed of leaving Iran and building a life abroad, but he could never afford the cost of emigrating.
Incident summary
According to the family’s account, on the night of 18 Dey, on Mokhaberat Street in Arak, as the repressive forces were firing tear gas, Omid bravely picked up the canisters and moved them away so that his fellow citizens would not be harmed. When one of them tried to help him, Omid stopped him and said, “Don’t touch it; I’m wearing gloves.” Then, as he bent down, picked up a canister, and tried to throw it back toward the repressive forces, they shot him in the head with live ammunition. We searched for him for three days and nights. Finally, at 9 p.m. on the night of the 21st, we found him in the morgue at Behesht Zahra Cemetery in Arak, with his eyes still open. They then interviewed us and said that we had to state that terrorists had killed him before they would release his body to us. They told us what to say, and we repeated it. They did not give us any opportunity to arrange his burial. We buried him at 6 a.m. the following morning under extremely heavy security pressure. They did not allow us to hold a ceremony for him, and we laid him to rest in the darkness, illuminated only by the lights from our mobile phones. 😭😭
Memorial narrative
Omid was the embodiment of innocence, compassion, and kindness. He devoted his life to his family. He never wanted anything for himself; all he cared about was his younger brother and his mother. Throughout his life, Omid put his family's needs before his own. On the night of 18 Dey, he refused to submit to oppression, and later died from his injuries.