Concerns Mount Over Health of Imprisoned Iranian Activist

rferl.org – The family of Iranian activist Manuchehr Bakhtiari is voicing serious concerns over his health following his brief transfer from prison to a medical facility on June 28.

Bakhtiari, who is currently held at Chubindar prison in the northwestern city of Qazvin, has been denied access to medical treatment for several months.

Bakhtiari became a prominent rights advocate after his son, Pouya Bakhtiari, was killed in a crackdown on protests in Iran in November 2019. He has been denied medical treatment for several months.

His transfer to a medical facility comes after his wife, Sara Abbasi, told the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) that his prostate disease has been progressing.

In a video released by the family on June 29, Bakhtiari is seen being escorted by multiple security personnel from Chubindar prison in Qazvin to a medical facility.

One of his hands is cuffed to one of the officers, and he is surrounded by a heavy security presence during the transfer.

The video also captures a poignant moment when Bakhtiari meets his elderly mother on a bench inside the medical facility. Despite being in a medical facility, Bakhtiari’s handcuffs were not removed, even during his meeting with his mother.

The family has repeatedly raised alarms over Bakhtiari’s health, warning that his life is in danger.

Despite doctors stressing the urgent need for Bakhtiari’s hospitalization due to the progression of his illness, he was returned to prison after a few hours.

His brother, Mehrdad, shared a video of Manuchehr’s transfer to the medical facility, stating, “On Wednesday, they brought my brother for a check-up, and we were able to see him after one year and six months.”

The November 2019 protests during which Bakhtiari’s son was killed saw thousands of citizens in more than 100 Iranian cities and towns protesting the government’s sudden decision to raise gas prices.

The protests quickly turned political, with many chanting against the Iranian regime and its leaders.

The Iranian Human Rights Organization has confirmed the death of 324 citizens, including 14 children, in the 2019 protests, but Reuters estimated that the actual number of people killed was around 1,500.

The Islamic republic has a long history of harassing, arresting, and imprisoning the families of executed political prisoners and killed protesters.

In recent months, pressure has intensified on the families seeking justice for those killed in the November 2019 protests and during the current wave of nationwide protests triggered by the death in September last year of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody following her arrest for allegedly earing her Islamic headscarf improperly.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says more than 500 people have been killed during the recent unrest, including 71 minors, as security forces try to stifle widespread dissent.

Seven young protesters have been executed.