HRANA News Agency – Four Kurdish prisoners who have been on hunger strike for nearly two weeks are in critical condition.Following a protest in Marivan Prison on July 25, 2011, four Kurdish activists were transferred to Bijar Prison.They began their hunger strike upon arrival.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), on July 25, 2011, a number of ordinary and political prisoners in Marivan Prison staged a protest, and clashes broke out between intelligence officers and protestors on prison grounds.During these clashes, eight prisoners were beaten by Prison Special Forces.Following this protest, four prisoners were transferred to Bijar Prison, and a number of other prisoners were sent to Ghorveh Prison.

Although two weeks have passed since Hassan Akhtar-Samand, Zakria Khoda-Karam-Zadeh, Sivan Batoneh and Farshad Kamangar began their hunger strike, prison officials have blocked their access to phone and denied them the right to have visitors.

While the families of these political prisoners have no news of their loved ones, the officials have announced that the prisoners will be cut off from the rest of the world as long as they continue their hunger strike.