Category: Prisoners

Three Kurdish Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Rajai-Shahr Prison

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Prisoners
Anvar Khezri, Kamran Shakhi, Seyed Ebrahim Seyedi

HRANA News Agency – Since a week ago, three Kurdish political prisoners have been on hunger strike in Rajai-Shahr Prison to protest being locked up amongst ordinary criminals such as rapists, murderers and drug traffickers.

According to a report by Kalame News, Anvar Khezri, Kamran Shakhi and Seyed Ebrahim Seyedi have been illegally transferred from Ward 350 of Evin Prison to Rajai-Shahr Prison in violation of their basic rights.While ordinary prisoners only spend one day in the quarantine ward of Rajai-Shahr Prison in order to determine whether they are addicted to narcotics or not, these three political prisoners spent 50 days in the same ward which lacks basic health and sanitary conditions.After this time, they were transferred to Ward 6 of Rajai-Shahr Prison instead of the political prisoners’ cell block.

These three political prisoners are currently locked up amongst inmates convicted of violent crimes and also prisoners with dangerous communicable diseases.According to the principles governing the separation of prisoners based on their crimes, these three individuals must be kept in the cell block allocated to inmates arrested for political reasons.

While these three individuals are even denied basic rights extended to other prisoners, their families are deeply concerned about their physical and emotional well-being.These three political prisoners demand to be transferred to the ward housing other political prisoners.

 

Deteriorating Health of Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike

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Prisoners
Keyvan Samimi, Mehdi Mahmoudian, Rasoul Badaghi

 

HRANA News Agency – Reports from Rajai-Shahr prison indicate that the physical condition of political prisoners who are currently on hunger strike has worsened while their health is deteriorating fast.

 

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a number of political prisoners in Section 12 of Ward 4 in Karaj’s Rajai-Shahr prison began their hunger strike on May 22, 2011.  On the seventh day of this hunger strike, prisoners’ physical condition is reported to be critical.

 

The web site of Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran has reported that the political prisoners have become physically weak and suffer from headaches, fatigue and a number of other symptoms.  Keyvan Samimi, Mehdi Mahmoudian and Essa Sahar are amongst the prisoners whose condition is critical.

 

Meanwhile, the authorities continue to refuse addressing the prisoners’ rightful demands.  Additionally, there has been no news of Rasoul Badaghi’s condition since he was transferred to solitary confinement in Ward 1 of Rajai-Shahr prison on the fifth day of the hunger strike.

 

Rasoul Badaghi Transferred to Solitary Confinement

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Labor and Guilds, Prisoners
Keyvan Samimi, Mehdi Mahmoodian, Rasoul Badaghi

HRANA News Agency – The imprisoned teacher, Rasoul Badaghi, has been transferred to one of the solitary confinements in Ward 1 of Gohardasht prison on the fifth day of his hunger strike.

 

According to a report released on the web site of Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, on Sunday, May 22, 2011, Rasoul Badaghi together with a number of other prisoners announced the beginning of his hunger strike in a letter outlining prisoners’ demands.  In this letter, prisoners state that until their requests are not met, they will continue their hunger strike.  Rasoul Badaghi in protest to the ongoing oppression in Iran, the lack of freedom of speech, the absence of independent organizations, the continuing trend of show trials, the infliction of inhuman restrictions on political prisoners and the increasing pressures on their families has been on hunger strike for five days.

 

On May 26, 2011, instead of investigating Rasoul Badaghi’s legitimate demands, interrogators of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence ordered his transfer to solitary confinement.  However, Rasoul Badaghi has announced that until his demands are not met, he will not end his hunger strike.

 

Rasoul Badaghi has outlined his requests clearly as follows:

  • Full implementation of prisons’ statute including visits, access to phone and the right to furlough
  • Ending any and all forms of pressures on the families of political prisoners
  • Immediate improvement of prisoners’ welfare and conditions

 

It must be noted that Rasoul Badaghi’s health and physical condition is by no means well, and other political prisoners are extremely concerned about his well-being.  Currently, in addition to Rasoul Badaghi, a number of other political prisoners including Keyvan Samimi and Mehdi Mahmoodian are on hunger strike.

 

Mehdi Mahmoudian Transferred to Solitary Confinement in Rajai Shahr Prison

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Prisoners
Mehdi Mahmoudian

 

HRANA News Agency – Mehdi Mahmoudian, an imprisoned journalist in Rajai Shahr prison, have been transferred to solitary confinement after publishing a letter detailing the ongoing human tragedies occurring in this prison.

 

According to a report by Jaras News, on Wednesday, Mehdi Mahmoudian was transferred from the special ward housing political prisoners to the solitary confinement.  Additionally, Jaras sources have reported that Mehdi Mahmoudian’s family has been banned from seeing him.

On Thursday, Mehdi Mahmoudian’s parents went to Rajai Shahr prison but were not allowed to see their son.  In his letter, Mehdi Mahmoudian had predicted that after the publication of his letter disclosing the dire conditions in Rajai Shahr prison, the pressure on him would increase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hossein Ronaghi Needs Immediate Medical Attention due to Bleeding

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Prisoners
Hossein Ronaghi

HRANA News Agency – Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, a human rights activist and a blogger, who was returned to prison shortly after his kidney operation, is experiencing excessive bleeding at the surgical site, and his condition is worrisome.

 

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), on Saturday, May 7, 2011, Hossein Ronaghi Maleki had a kidney operation that lasted six hours.  Immediately after the operation, he was transferred from Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital to Evin prison where he remains right now without proper medical care and equipment.

 

The decision to return him to prison was made despite the attending physician’s advice who announced that his patient had to remain under doctor’s care for some time after the surgery.  This human rights activist is now in Evin prison without proper medication and care while suffering from bleeding at the surgical site.

 

While in prison, Hossein Ronaghi was diagnosed with kidney disease and due to lack of medical care and negligence of prison officials, one of his kidneys has lost 70 percent of its functionality, and the other one only functions 20 percent below normal.

 

Since Hossein Ronaghi was transferred to hospital for surgery, security agents tied up his hands and legs with chains and treated his father and physician badly.  In response, Hossein Ronaghi went on hunger strike for two days.

 

According to one of his doctors, it is likely that Hossein Ronaghi is also suffering from gallstones due to lack of medical care for his kidney disease and continuous use of pain medication.

 

 

 

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Shirko Maarefi on Hunger Strike After Verbal Confirmation of Execution Order

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Prisoners
Ahmad Saeed Sheikhi, Sadegh Larijani, Shirko Maarefi

HRANA News Agency – Yesterday, Shirko (Bahman) Maarefi, a Kurdish political prisoner sentenced to death, was transferred to solitary confinement.  Previously, Saqqez Prison officials responsible for carrying out executions had verbally informed him of his pending fate.  As the time for his execution approached, Shirko Maarefi started his hunger strike on April 28, 2011.

According to a report by the Student Committee for Defense of Political Prisoners in Iran, Shirko Maarefi was arrested on October 1, 2008 and was subsequently sentenced to death by the lower court for the charges of acting against national security, waging war against God and membership in the Kurdish Komalah party.  Due to objections made by his attorneys to the legality of charges and the trial proceedings, the defendant’s request for a hearing by the Head of the Judiciary Branch, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, was accepted, and the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

As a result of the decision made by Saqqez’s prosecutor to modify the charges against Shirko Maarefi, the case should have been retried and similarly the death penalty not upheld.  However, since the Appeals court in Kurdistan Province didn’t consider itself qualified, the case was once again referred to Tehran.  Given the fact that the legal objections have been accepted by the Head of the Judiciary Branch, the attorneys have not yet received an official confirmation of death penalty.  Meanwhile, on March 22, 2011, Saqqez Prison officials verbally notified Shirko Maarefi that his death sentence would be carried out on May 1, 2011, the International Workers’ Day.

On April 26, 2011, Shirko Maarefi issued a statement from prison to confirm the verbal notification of his pending execution although his attorney, Ahmad Saeed Sheikhi, hasn’t received an official or legal correspondence regarding this matter.

Despite the fact that Shirko Maarefi’s death penalty has not been upheld, his case has been referred to the officials responsible to carry out executions in Kurdistan Province.  Reacting to this situation, Shirko Maarefi announced his hunger strike on April 28, 2011.

Because some sources have reported that Shirko Maarefi has been transferred to solitary confinement, concerns regarding his imminent execution has increased.  In an interview with Radio Neda, Khalil Bahramian, the consulting attorney on the case, explained, “Any time, the order can be carried out.”

Prisoner’s Lifeless Body Delivered to His Family After 20 Days

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Prisoners
Shahram Golchin

HRANA News Agency – Shahram Golchin’s lifeless body was delivered to his family after 20 days.  He was one of the victims killed during the incidents that resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of detainees in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Iran.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Shahram Golchin was detained by the Basiji militia in Ayatollah Kashani region and killed during the events that took place in Ghezel Hesar Prison.  After more than two weeks of repeated threats, pleas and inquiries from his family, his death was confirmed, and the dead body was delivered to his relatives.

One of the prisoner’s friends told a HRANA reporter, “Shahram Golchin was arrested at a checkpoint in Ayatollah Kashani region because he was one of the most energetic and enthusiastic young men on the street.  The same friend added, “There was no news of Shahram in prison after the riot.  On March 19, 2011, because of his family’s insistence to see him, the authorities announced that he was in the prison hospital.  However, according to the documents, we know that he was dead by then.”

Confirming that Shahram Golchin’s family had no news of him until after the Persian New Year holidays, this informed source told HRANA, “After the holidays and follow ups, it was determined that his dead body was in Karaj’s morgue, and lung infection was announced to be the cause of death.”

In reply to inquires about visible marks of beatings and torture, this eyewitness who had managed to see Shahram Golchin’s body said, “His legs and back were bruised, and the markings indicated that they were caused by the impact of a heavy and tubular shaped object.  Head injuries and fracture were also evident.”

Because of threats from the security and intelligence agencies, the family of this prisoner has told acquaintances that Shahram was killed in a car accident.

In the final days of the year 1389 in Persian calendar [March 2011], widespread protests broke in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison against the execution of ten prisoners.  Following this uprising, eighty prisoners were killed and more than 150 of them were injured.  During these clashes, prison and anti-riot guards opened fire on the prisoners and used live ammunition.

Under Torture, a Political Prisoner Lost His Hearing

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Prisoners

HRANA News Agency –A young, unknown political prisoner named Ahmad Shah Rezai who has been locked up in Evin prison since June 2010, has lost his hearing in one ear due to torture.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Ahmad Shah Rezai, 29, was arrested on June 12, 2010 in Enghelab Square during street demonstrations.

On June 12, 2010, Ahmad Shah Rezai had gone out to protest while wearing a green bandana on which the words “Death to Dictator” were inscribed and was subsequently arrested by plainclothes and Basiji agents.  On the street, a member of the Basij militia had angrily grabbed this young man’s long hair and cut it with a knife while shouting, “This is the outcome of such sedition.”

After his arrest, Ahmad Shah Rezai was transferred to cellblock 2A and kept there for 10 days.  He  was then moved to a solitary confinement in cellblock 240 for a period of seventy four days.  Meanwhile, he has lost his hearing in the right ear because of torture during interrogations.

The family of this political prisoner had no news of his whereabouts prior to his transfer to the general population in ward 350.  So far, they still have not been able to visit him in prison.

Ahmad Shah Rezai was sentenced to three years in prison by the trial court, but later the Court of Appeals commuted his sentence to one and half year imprisonment.

A Large Number of Female Prisoners Transferred out of Gohardasht

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Prisoners
Karaj’s Gohardasht Prison

HRANA News Agency – Following the closure of women’s cellblock in Karaj’s Gohardasht Prison, a large number of female prisoners have been transferred to various other locations including another prison in Karaj.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), after the closure of women’s cellblock in Karaj’s Rajai Shahr Prison (also known as Gohardasht Prison) which housed hundreds of ordinary women prisoners and a number of female political prisoners, all detainees have been relocated to other locations.

Reports indicate that the majority of inmates have been transferred to Karaj Prison which is considerably smaller.  However, regardless of the reason behind this relocation, it remains unclear whether female political prisoners have also been transferred to this prison.

It should be noted that in recent months, Iran’s state prison structure and programs have been changed by the State Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization.  These changes have been forthcoming due to two reasons:  First, the newly formed province of Alburz now holds the majority of prisoners from Tehran province.  Naturally, new management has become responsible for the system.  Second, in pursuit of reaching their organizational goals and objectives, new programs have been initiated by officials responsible for the security and protection of the prisons.

Hussein Rounaghi” Was Transferred To Hospital With His Hands and Ankles Cuffed

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Prisoners
Hussein Rounaghi Maleki

HRANA – After several months being in severe physical condition, on Wednesday morning April 20th, authorities finally transferred “Hussein Rounaghi Maleki” to a hospital with his hands and ankles cuffed.

According to The HRANA reporters, News organizations for Human Rights Activists in Iran, Today morning Hussein Rounaghi was taken to Hospital with his hands and ankles cuffed.

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