Monoochehr Bakhtiari, Father of Pooya Bakhtiari, Released Temporarily After Five Months
The father of Pooya Bakhtiari, a young man who was killed by bullets fired by Islamic Republic security forces during the November protests of last year, has been temporarily released on bail after months of detention.
According to reports from several Iranian human rights news outlets, Monoochehr Bakhtiari, who was arrested by security forces at Kish Island airport on the 23rd of Tir of this year while attempting to return to Tehran with his wife, was temporarily released on Saturday, the 15th of Azar, after nearly five months of detention.
Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Monoochehr Bakhtiari’s brother, previously explained the reason for his brother’s arrest to Voice of America as “the oppressive and security atmosphere prevailing in Iran.” According to Mr. Bakhtiari, the Iranian regime’s response to anyone who raises their voice in pursuit of justice and protest is detention, imprisonment, and other measures.
Pooya Bakhtiari was one of the casualties of the November 2019 protests in Iran. When he joined a rally on the second day of protests against the increase in gasoline prices along with other family members, he was shot and died before reaching the hospital.
The U.S. Secretary of State last month, during the ceremony announcing America’s annual human rights report on countries around the world, again referred to the killing of Iranian protesters during last November’s popular protests and mentioned Pooya Bakhtiari, one of the casualties of these protests. Mr. Pompeo, by naming Pooya Bakhtiari in his remarks, said: “This young engineer was one of thousands of young Iranians who protested against the Iranian regime and was killed by regime officials. They even prevented his funeral from being held. We want you to know that we have not forgotten them.”
Source: Voice of America
