The Condition of Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar in Evin Prison; Beatings and Poor Physical Condition

The children of Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar, a detained member of the "Campaign to Lift House Arrest," who was arrested on February 14 during a gathering for the release of leaders protesting the results of the 2009 presidential election in Tehran, expressed concern about his condition in Evin Prison. Hanieh Bakhtiar, the political prisoner's daughter, wrote on her Instagram page on Wednesday, March 6, that weeks have passed since her father's arrest and the new information that the family has received late has increased their worries. According to her, during the arrest, six security agents beat her 67-year-old father. Additionally, when the bail was issued, he was asked to sign a commitment not to participate in any "illegal anti-revolutionary demonstrations." However, due to his refusal to sign this commitment, he was sent to Evin Prison. The daughter of this political prisoner announced that in the early days of his detention and during interrogation, Mr. Bakhtiar faced high blood pressure due to lack of access to medication and the conditions of the interrogation, which worsened his physical condition. As a result, the agents transferred him to the hospital under a "pseudonym" and after one night of hospitalization, returned him to Evin Prison. Hanieh Bakhtiar emphasized that her father cannot withstand the physical conditions of prison at all, and the family's concerns have increased over time. She expressed hope that her father would be released soon. According to the Telegram channel "Kalemeh," Alireza Bakhtiar, another son of Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar, wrote that his father has been beaten multiple times and then, due to the interruption of his necessary medications, was urgently transferred to the hospital under a pseudonym. However, after one night of hospitalization, he was handed back to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for further interrogations. Alireza Bakhtiar emphasized that his father is a "chemical, bullet, and shrapnel war veteran, as well as suffering from mental health issues, but prison officials have refused to provide his medications." The son of this political prisoner also reported that his father's physical condition is not good, but he remains strong mentally and even encourages other prisoners. Alireza Bakhtiar shared a picture of his father from the Iran-Iraq War on the social media platform "X," quoting a message he received in which Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar told the security forces, "I do not recognize this kind of people who, by usurping the clothes of my martyr brothers, are oppressing the people with weapons." He also emphasized: "As a soldier, I consider political prisoners captives and the prison term as captivity." According to news sources, on February 14, a group of supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the protesters against the 2009 presidential election results, gathered in front of Tehran University to protest their continued house arrest and the situation of political prisoners. This gathering was met with intervention from the Islamic Republic's security forces and widespread arrests of protesters. A statement indicated that about 500 individuals were arrested during these protests, many of whom were released after a while, but several detainees, including Rahim Qamishi, Mohammad Baqer Bakhtiar, and Mohsen Qashqai Zadeh, along with several others, including two women whose names have not yet been announced, remain in custody. Earlier, Asghar Jahangir, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's judiciary, accused the detainees of the February 14 gathering of "disturbing public order" and stated that "investigations" of some of these individuals are ongoing. Meanwhile, HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, reported that Nasser Daneshfar, a political activist, has been summoned by Branch 7 of the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Tehran. According to this report, he has been asked to appear in this branch within five days of the notification being posted in the notification system. Mr. Daneshfar was arrested for publishing a call for participation in a protest gathering in front of Tehran University and was later released on bail. During his detention, he was charged with conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime and actions against national security. The arrest of Rahim Qamishi, who had called for a protest against Mousavi's house arrest, has led hundreds of political and civil activists to demand the release of those arrested in the February 14 gathering. The judiciary stated that the recent detainees "were seeking to disturb public order."