Tag: Mehrdad Bakhtiari

Political Prisoners Bakhtiari and Nasiri Begin Hunger Strike in Solitary

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News, Prisoners
Karaj Revolutionary Court, Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari, Siamak Nasiri

Mehrdad Bakhtiari and Siamak Nasiri, political prisoners held in Karaj Central Prison, have been transferred to solitary confinement as punishment. In protest, they have gone on a hunger strike.

A source close to the family of one of the prisoners confirmed the news to HRANA, stating: “Nasiri and Bakhtiari were placed in solitary confinement at noon on December 21 as a punitive measure. They began a hunger strike in protest against this decision.” The source added: “Nasiri suffers from kidney disease, and his confinement in solitary while on hunger strike has heightened the concerns of his family and relatives.”

Background on Siamak Nasiri:

Nasiri was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Karaj on August 28, 2023, and later transferred to Karaj Central Prison.

In late January 2024, he was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyed Mousa Asef Hosseini, to five years in prison for “inciting people to violence and waging war against national security.” He also received one year for “propaganda against the regime” and two years of exile to Ahvaz.

In early May 2024, the Alborz Appeals Court reduced his sentence to three years and one month in prison and upheld the two years of exile to Ahvaz.

Nasiri, aged around 36, was a Karaj resident and an employee of the gas company before his arrest.

Background on Mehrdad Bakhtiari:

Bakhtiari is the uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests. He was arrested on July 11, 2022, after releasing a video about the arrest of Pouya’s mother, Nahid Shirpisheh, and images of a broken lock on their home’s door. He was initially held in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and later released on bail on September 3, 2022.

In early March 2023, the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced him to one year in prison for “propaganda against the regime,” five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” a two-year travel ban, and two years of exile to Shahrekord.

On August 7, 2024, he was arrested to serve his sentence and transferred to Ward 15 of Karaj Central Prison.

Context on Pouya Bakhtiari:

Pouya Bakhtiari, a 27-year-old protester, was killed during the November 2019 demonstrations in Mehrshahr, Karaj, after being shot in the head. According to his father, Pouya joined the protests on the second day with his mother and sister. He died before reaching the hospital. Pouya was one of the hundreds killed during the nationwide protests in 2019.

Mehrdad Bakhtiari Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Manouchehr Bakhtiari, Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari, Rajai Shahr Prison

Mehrdad Bakhtiari, the paternal uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, was arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location on August 7, 2024.

His sister, Saba Bakhtiari, announced this news and stated that the agents beat Mehrdad Bakhtiari during his arrest. The reasons for his arrest and his whereabouts are currently unknown.

In March 2024, Mr. Bakhtiari was sentenced by the Karaj Revolutionary Court to five years in prison, a two-year travel ban, and two years of exile to Shahrekord.

It is noteworthy that in April 2023, a court session was held in Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court to address other charges against Mehrdad Bakhtiari. He was acquitted of the charges in that case.

On July 11, 2022, Mehrdad Bakhtiari was arrested by security forces and transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj after publishing a video about the arrest of Ms. Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother, and posting images of the broken lock on her house. He was released on bail on September 3 of the same year.

Previously, Manouchehr Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari’s father, announced that his 27-year-old son was shot and killed during the November 2019 protests in Mehrshahr district, Karaj. According to him, Pouya, along with his sister and mother, joined the protesters on the second day of the demonstrations against the increase in gasoline prices when he was shot in the skull and died before reaching the hospital.

Mehrdad Bakhtiari Faces Six-Year Prison Sentence and Additional Restrictions

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Freedom of Expression, News
Aban protests, Karaj, Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari

The Revolutionary Court of Karaj has handed down a six-year prison sentence to Mehrdad Bakhtiari, along with a two-year travel ban, and two-year exile in Shahrekord. He is the paternal uncle of Pouya Bakhtiari, who tragically lost his life at the hands of regime forces during the 2019 Protests, aka Aban Protests.

Bakhtiari publicly disclosed that he was given five years for “assembly and collusion against national security” and an additional one year for “spreading propaganda against the regime.”

This legal case unfolded in July 2022 when charges were filed against Bakhtiari and Nahid Shirpisheh, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother. It is noteworthy that in a separate case initiated by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court, Bakhtiari was acquitted of the charges against him.

Bakhtiari’s arrest occurred on July 11, 2022, after he shared a video on social media about Shirpisheh’s arrest and posted pictures of her residence’s door, which had been broken by authorities. Following his arrest, Bakhtiari was transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. He was released on bail on September 3, 2022, until the end of legal proceedings.
In a tragic and interconnected series of events, Bakhtiari’s son, Pouya, at the age of 27, was fatally shot by regime forces during the 2019 protests, also known as the Aban Protests, in Karaj. According to his sister and mother, Pouya succumbed to his injuries in the hospital after being shot in the head during the second day of the protest’s eruption.

The sentencing and associated restrictions underscore a worrisome development, exemplifying the state of freedom of expression and political dissent in Iran.

Family Members of Victims of the November 2019 Protests Arrested

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Taghavi, Iran Allahyari, Jafar Panahi, Jafarpanah, Mahboobeh Ramezani, Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Mehrdad Moeinfar, Pejman Gholipour, Pouya Bakhtiari, Saeed Damour, Somayeh Jafarpanah, Tala'at Meshki, Vahid Damour

On July 11, 2022, security forces arrested at least ten family members of the individuals killed during nationwide protests in  2019 known as Aban protests. In a news article, IRGC-affiliated  Fars News Agency called such families “agitators and “troublemakers” since they have been outspoken about seeking justice for their kids.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on July 11, 2022, at least ten family members of those who were killed in the Aban protest were arrested.

These apprehended individuals include Nahid Shirpisheh and Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Pouya Bakhtiari’s mother and uncle, Mahboobeh Ramezani, Pejman Gholipour’s mother, Saeed Damour, Vahid Damour’s brother, and Somayeh Jafarpanah, Jafar Panahi’s sister.

BBC Farsi has added Tala’at Meshki, Jafarpanah’s mother, Iran Allahyari, Mehrdad Moeinfar’s mother, and, Zeynab Mohammadi, Mohammad Taheri’s mother, to the list. HRANA has not been able to verify the latter yet. 

These individuals’ whereabouts are still unknown.

A few hours after these arrests, Fars News Agency called the family members “agitators” and accused them of “receiving the money to cause unrest and insecurity.”

In November of 2019, an increase in fuel prices sparked a wave of protests in dozens of cities across the country. The spokesperson of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Seyed Hossein Taghavi, announced that 7000 people were arrested during these protests. According to reports from human rights organizations, hundreds were killed by the security apparatus.