Pressure on the Family of Pooja Bakhtiari Continues

Saba Bakhtiari, the aunt of Pooja Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, says that following the arrest of Mehrdad Bakhtiari, Pooja's uncle, Pooja's grandmother suffered a nervous breakdown and is in poor physical and mental condition. On the evening of August 18, Ms. Bakhtiari also published a video on social media showing Pooja Bakhtiari's grandmother's distress due to the increasing pressure on this grieving family. Mehrdad Bakhtiari is the third member of this family currently in detention, and there is no information available regarding his charges. On Wednesday, August 17, it was reported that Mehrdad Bakhtiari was violently arrested by agents of the Islamic Republic at his home after a video of his brother being beaten was released in the Revolutionary Court. Meanwhile, Manouchehr Bakhtiari, Pooja's father, has previously been sentenced to three and a half years in prison on charges of 'spreading falsehoods and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' Nahid Shirpich, Pooja Bakhtiari's mother, has also been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of 'contacting foreign intelligence services,' 'receiving money,' and 'spreading falsehoods,' and is currently in Zanjan prison. Other members of Pooja Bakhtiari's family, including one of his grandmothers, have also been previously detained. Pooja Bakhtiari was killed on November 25, 2019, after being shot in the head by government agents in Mehrshahr, Karaj. Since then, the Bakhtiari family has faced pressure and harassment from the government’s intelligence and security agents. Other families seeking justice for victims of recent protests in Iran have also consistently faced threats, harassment, and even legal prosecution. The severe government crackdown and the risk of protests going 'underground' are ongoing concerns.