A publicized suicide for political reasons

[Cathy Ames]

Hi! I would have sworn that there was a thread for "suicide in the news" or some such, but I can't seem to find it. Anyhow... I have been reading a lot about this person. I think it might be unusual to make the statement by drowning rather than immolation?

Iranian national dies in Lyon decrying Tehran's crackdown on protests

An Iranian national jumped into the Rhône River on Monday after posting a video on Facebook forewarning he was going to kill himself to raise awareness of his country's plight. According to NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), 476 protesters have so far been killed in the crackdown.

www.euronews.com

 

[Forever Sleep]

Suicides certainly send out a message. It always struck me in the HBO Chernobyl series (which was presumably based on the truth) that it seemed like it was the suicide (by hanging) of Valery Legasov that promted the scientific community to really address and confront as to why the disaster happened. (Not just human error.) He also did it one day after the second anniversary of the event.

I don't think it's clear that he did it for effect- he was ill from the radiation and the goverment seemed to have a smear campaign on him. (Sounded like he was actually an absolute hero.) Still- his suicide sent shockwaves through the scientific community.

It's weird isn't it? On the one hand- our society hates suicide but on the other- it seems fascinated by it. Especially if you die for a cause or a passion. The reason has to be 'just' (in societies eyes) of course.

You sort of wonder with Van Gogh- would he have become so famous if he didn't have such a famous (well documented) and ultimately- very tragic story? (Although there are those who question whether it was actually a suicide... The bullet tragectory was extremely strange to be self inflicted amongst other peculiarities.)

I do actually admire people who go out for a cause- especially if they endure suffering in the process. Immolation just sounds unthinkable to me. I'll be CTB for far more mundane, selfish reasons. Still, I'm tempted to wear a t shirt that says: 'Fuck Capitalism!' That I suppose is a main reason I want out. (Not that I really think other systems work that much better- I just don't want to be a wage slave to make rich people richer.)

 

[Pentobarbital_Plz]

Still, I'm tempted to wear a t shirt that says: 'Fuck Capitalism!'

In my ctb fantasies, I've considered writing all over my body all sorts of stuff so that whoever undresses me is like wtf and whoever has to do paperwork has to document various [controversial] sentiments, but I'm not sure what I'd write.

 

[Un-]

I never understood things like this. Dying isn't going to be a catalyst for anything. It can be, but the chances are low.. If you're protesting against something, usually the thing you're opposing has the resources to make sure your story isn't seen at all. In this instance, I don't think the poor fellow's message will do much good..sigh.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I never understood things like this. Dying isn't going to be a catalyst for anything. It can be, but the chances are low.. If you're protesting against something, usually the thing you're opposing has the resources to make sure your story isn't seen at all. In this instance, I don't think the poor fellow's message will do much good..sigh.

Guess it depends just how many people do it. (Not that I'm encouraging some mass event!) I suppose all suicides are a protest of some kind. A protest against life under your current circumstances.

A vast increase in a populations suicide numbers likely points to some sort of shitty living conditions. I expect countries do (or should) feel embarassed if they rate highly. If they at least give the impression of caring, maybe an increase in suicides mean they will give more funds to support healthcare, mental health, unemployment, inequality etc.

Still, I agree- one person killing themselves 'in protest' likely just gets whitewashed as being a freak event by someone suffering from mental illness.

 

[Cathy Ames]

Still, I agree- one person killing themselves 'in protest' likely just gets whitewashed as being a freak event by someone suffering from mental illness.

I felt there was basically a collective shrug when Wynn Bruce self-immolated over climate change. But I am seeing that there were some kind of prominent articles about it within a couple-few days.