Iran's Celebrity Chef Beaten with Batons Amid Hijab Protests: Report

 Celebrity chef Mehrshad Shahidi, popularly known as Jamie Oliver of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was allegedly beaten to death by the nation’s Revolutionary Guard forces, according to a report by The Telegraph. 

The 19-year-old chef was arrested on October 25 for taking part in anti-government protests. He was reportedly thrashed with batons by the Iranian security forces at a detention center. They left him bleeding with severe skull injuries. The incident took place in Arak city of Iran.

A relative of the chef reportedly told Iran International TV, “Our son lost his life as a result of receiving baton blows to his head after his arrest, but we have been under pressure by the regime security forces to say that he has died because of a heart attack.”

Iranian American author Dr. Nina Ansary said, “He was killed by security forces in Iran. Tomorrow would have been his 20th birthday.”

However, Iranian security forces denied responsibility for the chef’s death. They reportedly said that there were “no signs" of fractures in his arms, legs, or skull or any brain injury.

After his death, many people reportedly took to the streets to protest his death. They demanded justice for him. Protesters also attended the funeral ceremony of Mehrshad.

The country is gripped by protests, sparked by the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini. Various doctors, journalists, and artists have been arrested by the Iranian security forces amid ongoing demonstrations. 

According to the rights groups, Amini was killed by the Iranian morality police. They said that the morality police hit Amini with a baton. Her family also said that Iranian security forces hit Amini, and she went into a coma. The doctor pronounced her dead on September 16. Huge protests erupted during her funeral ceremony in Saqqez. Subsequently, protests took place in various cities in Iran.