Tehran (Daily Pakistan Online) Amid ongoing anti-hijab protests in Iran, popular celebrity chef Mehrshad Shahidi, also known as Iran’s Jamie Oliver, was arrested by the country’s Revolutionary Guard, a day before his 20th birthday. The troops allegedly beat him to death. The ‘brutal’ killing of the chef sent shockwaves through Iran and thousands of people took to the streets at his funeral.
According to The Telegraph, the 19-year-old was arrested during protests and beaten with batons while in the custody of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the city of Arak. He was killed by a blow to the skull. Shahidi’s family says they were pressured to say their son died of a heart attack.
On the other hand, the Iranian authorities have refused to accept responsibility for the chef’s death. According to 7News, Iran’s Chief Justice Abdul Mahdi Mousavi even said that there were no signs of fracture or brain injury in his arms, legs or skull. However, many users on social media blamed the Iranian authorities for his death. Iranian-American author Dr. Nina Ansari wrote, ‘He (Mahrshad Shahidi) was a talented young chef at Bute Restaurant. He was brutally killed by security forces in Iran. Tomorrow would have been his 20th birthday. We will never forget. We will never forgive.’ ‘
