Four Sunni prisoners announce end to hunger strike

HRANA News Agency – Four Sunni prisoners awaiting execution in Iran announced an end to their hunger strike after 39 days without food, after being returned to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj yesterday.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the men, Hamed Ahmadi, Kamal Molayee, Jahangir Dehghani and Jamshed Dehghani began their hunger strike on 14 June 2014 after they were transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj in order for their execution to be carried out.

The men were held in solitary confinement in Ward 1 of the prison and were forced to wear ‘execution clothes’; special clothing for prisoners who are about to be executed. Their condition began deteriorating after more than a month on hunger strike in protest at their imminent executions.

According to reports, the scheduled executions have been temporarily postponed after widespread attention from human rights organisations and increased pressure on the Iranian authorities.

The four men were transferred back to the quarantine section of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj yesterday. The men announced an end to their hunger strike in recent hours after they were transferred to Section 10 of the prison, where they had been held previously with the other Sunni prisoners of conscience.

The four men were sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, along with six other Sunni men who were executed in 2012.

“The Iranian authorities are executing them over charges that appear to be fabricated and after grossly unfair trials,” said Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

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