Monoucher Bakhtiari Arrested Again; He Was ‘Thrown in the Trunk of a Car and Taken Away’

The father of Poya Bakhtiari, a young man who was killed by bullets fired by Islamic Republic security forces during the November 2019 protests, has been violently arrested by security forces once again.

Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Monoucher Bakhtiari’s brother, confirmed the news to Voice of America, saying that security forces raided his brother’s home on Thursday, April 29, severely beat him, violently placed him in the trunk of a car, and transferred him to an unknown location.

He further stated that not only Mr. Bakhtiari but also other family members, including a nursing infant child, and neighbors who were present to prevent Mr. Bakhtiari from being beaten, were also beaten and injured by the officers.

Mr. Bakhtiari also said that he contacted the Information Department headquarters to determine the detention location or the detaining agency, but they claimed to have no information.

Masih Alinejad, an independent journalist and host and commentator of the Tablet program at Voice of America, also posted a video of Monoucher Bakhtiari’s mother, writing: “The peak of state violence against the most non-violent protests of justice-seeking families. Families will not back down.”

This is not the first time Monoucher Bakhtiari or other family members have been arrested. He was first arrested on the eve of the 40th day commemoration of those killed in the November 2019 protests, along with some other family members, by security forces. Mr. Bakhtiari was subsequently arrested multiple times by security forces and was temporarily released after a period of time upon payment of bail.

Poya Bakhtiari, son of Monoucher Bakhtiari and one of the victims of the November 2019 protests in Iran, is from Iran. He was shot when, on the second day of the protests against the increase in gasoline prices, he participated in a march with other family members, and died before reaching the hospital.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned violent crackdowns on protesters in various cases and the widespread suppression of dissent, as well as the repeated and continuous violation of the rights of Iranian citizens by the Islamic Republic.

Source: Voice of America