'Goodbye, Iran': Protester’s final words as Iranians honor his memory

Tributes poured in for Abol Korkor, an Iranian protester who took his own life on Saturday during a live Instagram broadcast as security forces stormed his hideout in the southwestern city of Izeh.

Abol (Hamid) Korkor ended his life on Saturday after the Islamic Republic's security forces surrounded his hiding place and fired continuously, according to an account from activist and former political prisoner Foad Choobin on X.

Korkor, who had lived in hiding for over two years, streamed the raid live on Instagram as security forces stormed his home. He is the latest in a long line of protesters to take their own lives under pressure from Iran's security forces, exacerbated since the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.

During the stream of gunfire, Korkor is repeatedly heard shouting, "We surrender," but the forces continued shooting.

In the end, Korkor said, "I have no choice. Goodbye, Iran," before taking his own life, the video shows.

Korkor's final words, "Goodbye, Iran," have been widely shared, with Iranians including opposition figures, activists, and artists mourning his death and condemning the government’s crackdown on dissent.

Iran's exiled Reza Pahlavi in a post on X called Korkor a "courageous martyr" and said his name should be "eternal and revered."

Women's rights activist Masih Alinejad wrote in a post on Instagram that Korkor "refused to surrender to the soldiers of the Islamic Republic’s terrorist Revolutionary Guards."

Iran-based rights activist Hossein Ronaghi described Izeh as a city with a long history of resistance, saying its people have "never bowed to tyranny."

"From the past to the present, the people of Izeh have stood courageously against injustice, proving that freedom is only achieved through resistance and struggle," he wrote in a post on X,

"With the cry of 'Goodbye, Iran,' he took his final breath," Ronaghi wrote, framing Korkor’s death as a symbol of defiance in the face of repression.

Iranian dissident rapper Hichkas also paid tribute, writing, "When you think of Iran until the moment of death," referencing Korkor’s final words, "Goodbye, Iran."

Similarly, rapper Shahin Najafi paid tribute sharing a photo of Korkor and writing on X, "Our code is to die standing," in reference to Korkor’s decision to take his own life rather than surrender to the Islamic Republic’s security forces.

Rapper Toomaj Salehi, who has faced imprisonment for his activism, expressed frustration over the isolation of Izeh, writing in a post on Telegram, "We left Izeh alone."

He also revealed that just a month ago, intelligence agents had blocked his attempt to travel toward Izeh, in what appeared to be a reference to the heavy security presence surrounding the city.

Former Iranian soccer star Ali Karimi echoed Korkor’s final words, writing on X, "'Goodbye, Iran' meant freedom for him."

On Sunday, Choobin further reported on X that Korkor's family are under pressure from intelligence and security agencies to not hold a ceremony for Koror, to avoid unrest in the city, and that the authorities have not yet given his body to the family.