The photos of Pouya Bakhtiari show a young brown man, laughing eyes and smiling on the lips. The 27-year-old Iranian loved Charles Aznavour, the history of Iran and Persian calligraphy. Three years ago, he became a vegetarian to protect the environment, he explained on his Instagram page. He was killed on November 16 during a demonstration in Mehrshahr, a small town some 50 kilometers west of Tehran.
According to Amnesty International, at least 161 Iranians were killed in the crackdown on the protests sparked by rising gas prices, starting on 15 November. Blocked on November 16, the Internet is slowly being restored in Iran – except in two provinces – to give an image of the extent of this fierce crackdown, which the Iranian media are not allowed to cover.
"What did he do my son? "
The list of names of killed protesters continues to grow. Among them, many young people and teenagers. Due to the pressure exerted by the Iranian authorities, very few parents and relatives of these young people agree to express themselves in the foreign media. Pouya Bakhtiari's parents are among the few to have taken the risk. In an interview with BBC Persian, broadcast from London, Pouya Bakhtiari's father explains that his son had gone to the demonstration on the day of his death with his mother and sister. "What did he do my son? He was there to protest the rising price of gas. I am proud that he has taken the path of freedom for his country ", explains the man, his voice calm.
"I'm risking my life. The parents ! Tell your children to go out »
His parents sent the BBC Persian videos that their son made with his mobile phone all day long on November 16, before his death. A rare document that shows how the demonstrations began in calm before becoming violent. In the morning, the young man is driving his car and comments on traffic jams created voluntarily by motorists on a highway in Tehran. " Congratulations to everybody ! Let's go to freedom! " said the young man, a hair on his tongue. "Here is a nice dusk. With the hope of a better sunrise for the Iranian people, he adds later in the day while filming the setting sun.
