Continued Judicial Pressure on Families of November 2019 Protest Victims; Brother and Father of Farzad Ansari-Far Arrested
Following news reports about the arrest of Amin Ansari-Far, the father of Farzad Ansari-Far, one of those killed in the November 2019 protests in Behbahan, reports indicate the detention of another family member.
Farzaneh Ansari-Far, sister of this victim of the November 2019 protests, announced on her Instagram account the arrest of Arman Ansari-Far, her other brother, by security forces.
Farzaneh Ansari-Far wrote on her Instagram page on Sunday, March 21: “People of Iran, be our voice. They have arrested my father and my brother Arman. What is his crime?”
Without releasing further information about the arrest, Ms. Ansari-Far reported the intensity of pressure on her family and asked the Iranian people to be the voice of her family.
The previous day, following reports of Amin Ansari-Far’s arrest, a source close to the Ansari-Far family told Voice of America that a summons was sent to Mr. Ansari-Far approximately one week earlier, but he did not appear in court, and a warrant for his arrest was issued on Wednesday.
According to this informed source, Mr. Ansari-Far was arrested on Saturday, February 19, upon reporting to the court and was charged with “testifying at the International People’s Court of November 2019” and “granting an interview to Masih Alinejad.”
This is while Mr. Ansari-Far says he has not interviewed Masih Alinejad to date.
According to available information, Mr. Ansari-Far, who suffers from heart disease, informed his family in a brief phone call that he has been transferred to Behbahan Prison.
Earlier, on February 8, a source close to the family of Farzad Ansari-Far told Voice of America that, coinciding with the second round of the November 2019 International People’s Court held in London, judicial authorities, while placing pressure on this family, opened three separate cases against Farzaneh Ansari-Far.
Amin Ansari-Far appeared on Wednesday, November 9, as a witness on the first day of the first round of the November 2019 People’s Court and stated that not only has the killer of his son not been identified, but authorities have also opened cases against his brother and daughter due to their pursuit of justice for Farzad’s death.
He, who appeared virtually in this court session, explained to the court judges and the prosecution that his son was shot from behind and the location of the gunfire was identified as the roof of Nur Guesthouse in Behbahan, which was where security forces were present.
