Manouchehr Bakhtiari Transferred to Qazvin Prison

According to Hrana News Agency, the news outlet of human rights activists in Iran, Manouchehr Bakhtiari, father of Poya Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the nationwide protests in November 2019 (Aban 98), has been transferred from Karaj Central Prison to Qazvin Prison.

Ali Sharifzadeh, Mr. Bakhtiari’s defense lawyer, announced the news on his personal page, writing: “I learned that my client Manouchehr Bakhtiari has been transferred to Qazvin Central Prison as of July 20 and is deprived of visitation and phone contact rights. Given his physical condition and gastrointestinal bleeding, he requires medical care and treatment.”

Earlier, an informed source regarding this citizen’s condition told Hrana: “Manouchehr Bakhtiari, despite suffering from acute illnesses, is on a hunger strike. After the arrest of the families of complainants on July 11, he sent an audio file from prison condemning the security forces’ raid and arrest of mothers and fathers of complainants and the Islamic Republic regime, and called upon all Iranian people to support and stand in solidarity, especially in nationwide gatherings, to condemn this savage act. He was then transferred to one of the solitary cells in Karaj Central Prison.”

Mr. Bakhtiari, despite suffering from kidney disease, prostate problems, and hernia, and despite a legal medical certificate confirming serious need for medical treatment, had been deprived of specialized medical care and transfer to medical leave. Manouchehr Bakhtiari was arrested on March 30, 2021, by security forces with beatings at his residence in Tehran.

He was ultimately sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment, 2 years and 6 months exile, and 2 years prohibition from leaving the country, and was transferred from a security institution detention center to Karaj Central Prison. In December 2021, he went on a hunger strike in protest of the proceedings and what Mr. Bakhtiari considered injustice, and ended his strike after several days.

Mr. Bakhtiari had previously been arrested due to his activities. On April 8, 2021, while attending a gathering at the mausoleum of General Asad Bakhtiari, one of Iran’s constitutional activists, in Isfahan, along with family members of those killed in popular protests and a number of civil activists, he was arrested and released after some time. He was also arrested by security personnel at the airport on July 14, 2020, upon returning from Kish to Tehran, and was released on bail on December 6, 2020.

Manouchehr Bakhtiari, father of Poya Bakhtiari, announced that his 27-year-old son was shot and killed during the November 2019 protests in Phase 4 of Mehr City, Karaj. According to him, Poya, along with his sister and mother, joined the protesters on the second day of public protests against the increase in gasoline prices, when his skull was targeted by bullets and he died before reaching the hospital. Poya Bakhtiari (born September 10, 1992 – died November 16, 2019, in Mehr City, Karaj) was one of the victims of Iran’s nationwide protests of 2019.

Source: Hrana