Friends Shocked by Iranian’s Immolation
Friends and relatives of an Iranian bookstore owner who set himself afire Sunday during an anti-Khomeini protest in Westwood said they had no warning of the man’s plans and were shocked when it happened.
The man, Neusha Farrahi, 31, was reported in critical condition Monday at County-USC Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns over 70% of his body.
Payam Farrahi, the victim’s brother, said he extinguished the flames with a blanket he found nearby. He also denied earlier reports that he and other friends had prevented authorities from helping his brother.
He said he and friends had created a ring around Farrahi to prevent him from being crushed by the roughly 1,000 demonstrators in the area.
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