MANOUCHEHR BAKHTIARI: BE THE VOICE OF MY BROTHER MEHRDAD AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS

Manouchehr Bakhtiari, the father of Pouya Bakhtiari, one of those killed during the nationwide protests of 2019, once again expressed concern about the condition of his brother, Mehrdad Bakhtiari, by sharing a photo on Instagram. He emphasized that Mehrdad “has been held in prison for more than a year and a half under a no-visitation order” and is only allowed “a few minutes of short phone calls, three days a week.”

In his post, Manouchehr Bakhtiari described his brother’s perseverance as “standing firm for Iran,” and wrote: “Keeping the memory of political prisoners alive is just as essential and principled as remembering our compatriots. Political prisoners, jailed for seeking justice, accountability, freedom, and human dignity, are the living champions of this land.”

Referring to his own experience of “years of imprisonment, exile, and months without phone calls or visits,” he added: “I know how, when freedom-seeking movements fail to amplify the voices of true freedom fighters, families are pressured and blamed more each day. But we will not be silent. We will not forget. We will not be extinguished.”

The father of Pouya Bakhtiari concluded his message by writing: “For the people, the media, and every freedom-loving voice to stand beside the prisoners whom the regime tries to silence through imprisonment is the duty of every free human being. With all my strength, I demand the release of my brother Mehrdad Bakhtiari, and I call on all freedom-seekers to be the voice of Mehrdad and all political prisoners. Our silence is their desire; our steadfastness is Iran’s hope.”

Manouchehr Bakhtiari was released from Qazvin Prison after 1,615 days in detention, but his exile sentence remains in effect, requiring him to live in Bandar Abbas for two years under forced residence.