An imprisoned anti-government Iranian activist championing justice for victims of the Islamic Republic, faces ongoing challenges as he is being denied medical leave.
Manouchehr Bakhtiari, a political prisoner and the father of Pouya Bakhtiari, who was shot by a government sniper during the November 2019 protests, is confronting an unfavorable physical condition in Choubindar Prison in Qazvin. Bakhtiari became an outspoken opponent of the regime after his son’s death and was arrested by intelligence agencies.
Despite his pressing health concerns, Bakhtiari is unable to receive the necessary medical care due to opposition from relevant authorities, reported Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Currently enduring over 500 days in solitary confinement, he is also not granted permission to meet with his family.
The loss of his 27-year-old son Pouya, who was shot and killed by security forces during the November 2019 protests, has fueled Bakhtiari’s steadfast advocacy for accountability against the regime. His efforts include demanding justice not only for Pouya but also for numerous protesters allegedly killed by government agents and IRGC officers during political demonstrations.
In response to Bakhtiari’s persistent campaign for justice, authorities have subjected him to harsh retaliatory measures. He was detained at his home in Tehran in 2021 and physically assaulted by members of the security forces. A subsequent sentence from the Revolutionary Court imposed two years and six months of internal exile, a two-year travel ban, and an initial three years and six months prison term. In November, Bakhtiari received an additional six-month prison sentence for “insulting the leader,” as confirmed by the Qazvin Revolutionary Court.