Category: Prisoners

Hasan Hussianpour Beaten by Rajai-Shahr Prison Officials

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Prisoners
Hasan Hussianpour

HRANA News Agency – Prison officials at Rajai-Shahr Prison in the city of Karaj have beaten and battered Hasan Hussianpour and locked him up in solitary confinement.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), In mid May of this year, Hasan Hussianpour who is a regular prisoner was attacked and beaten by other inmates.He was subsequently transferred to the prison hospital and then to solitary confinement.Afterwards, because he protested to being locked up in an isolation cell, Hasan Hussianpour was beaten again but this time by prison officials.

Hasan Hussianpour was once more transferred to the prison hospital while being in critical condition.After he received stitches for his wounds, and his other injuries were treated, he was locked up in a solitary confinement in Ward 1 again.Although his wounds have not healed, prison officials refuse to provide further medical care to him.

It has been reported that after 45 days of solitary confinement, Hasan Hussianpour’s wounds have been infected, and he is in critical condition.

 

Failure to Provide Medical Care to Kourosh Kohkan in Evin

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Prisoners
Kourosh Kohkan

HRANA News Agency – Iranian government officials have denied medical care to Kourosh Kohkan who is a social activist locked up in Evin Prison since January 2010.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Kourosh Kohkan suffers from meniscus tear (torn cartilage) of the knee caused while intelligence agents were interrogating and torturing him in Evin Prison.

In April 2011, Kourosh Kohkan went on hunger strike to demand medical care and surgery for his knee.Subsequently, he was transferred to Taleghani Hospital and had a knee operation.Upon his return to Evin Prison after the surgery, due to the lack of medical care, the surgical site became severely infected.So far, prison officials have refused to provide further medical treatment to this political prisoner.

Judge Pierabasi presiding over the Revolutionary Court, Branch 26, has sentenced Kourosh Kohkan to three years and six months in prison and 74 lashes.For the time being, Kourosh Kohkan is serving his sentence in Evin Prison, Ward 350.

 

Explosive Situation at Yazd Prison

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Prisoners
Gholam Hossein Heydari

HRANA News Agency – The Chief Justice of Yazd Province has said, “Unfortunately, physical conditions in Yazd prison are very poor such that the situation has reached an explosive point.”

According to a report by the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Gholam Hossein Heydari has visited the central prison in Yazd and toured different facilities such as various wards, exercise facilities, cultural centers, hospitals, vocational and training centers and prison cells.As a result, the Chief Justice has been abreast of issues and problems.

Gholam Hossein Heydari stated that the lack of enough physical space and especially overcrowded prison cells is the major problem and added, “The lack of sufficient physical space has reached an explosive point such that currently, there is not adequate resting and sleeping space available for most prisons.”

The Chief of Judicial Council in Yazd Province said that it was necessary to remedy the situation as soon as possible.He also expressed hope that with appropriate funding, the construction of a new prison in Yazd would take place, and by imposing alternative forms of punishment other than imprisonment, the problems could be resolved.

 

Five Prisoners Escaped from Sabzevar Prison

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Prisoners
Khorasan, Sabzevar

HRANA News Agency – Five prisoners escaped from Sabzevar Prison in Khorasan Province.These prisoners were charged with armed robbery and clashes with the police and had received sentences ranging from 15 years in prison to the death penalty.

According to reports by Iran’s state media, these five prisoners used a sharp object to break through the ceiling of their prison cell and after tearing down the Isogum layer, escaped through the roof.It has also been reported that the ceiling of the prison cell had become drenched and soggy due to heavy rain.

The prisoners then hid behind the air-conditioning units on the roof and using sheets to make a rope, lowered themselves into the adjacent alley and finally escaped.

Iran’s state media and news agencies have reported that three of these prisoners were arrested ten hours following their escape, and the fourth one was detained by the police after two days.However, the fifth fugitive is still at large.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

 

 

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.”