Tag: Hunger Strike

Fifteen Women on Hunger Strike in Kachooie Prison

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News, Prisoners
Ansieh Mousavi, Armita Abbasi, atemeh Mosleh Heidarzadeh, Elham Modarresi, Fatemeh Harbi, Fatemeh Jamalpour, Fatemeh Nazari-Nejad, Hamideh Zeraei, Hunger Strike, Jasmin Haj Mirza Mohammadi, Kachooie Prison, Maedeh Sohrabi, Marzieh Mirghasem, Nilloofar Shakeri, Niloofar Kardooni, Shahrzad Derakhshan, Somayeh Masoumi

Fifteen women arrested at recent protests have been on hunger strike for five days in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.

HRANA has identified these women as:

  1. Elham Modarresi
  2. Armita Abbasi
  3. Fatemeh Harbi
  4. Jasmin Haj-Mirza Mohammadi
  5. Fatemeh Nazari-Nejad
  6. Shahrzad Derakhshan
  7. Fatemeh Jamalpour
  8. Nilloofar Shakeri
  9. Hamideh Zeraei
  10. Niloofar Kardooni
  11. Somayeh Masoumi
  12. Ansieh Mousavi
  13. Maedeh Sohrabi
  14. Fatemeh Mosleh Heidarzadeh
  15. Marzieh Mirghasem

An informed source told HRANA they went on hunger strike in protest against prolonged detention in uncertainty, poor sanitary conditions, inadequate medical care, being held in an overcrowded ward, the lack of access to a lawyer and unjust verdicts.

“The court hearing to examine the charges against Hamideh Zeraei, Fatemeh Harbi and Ansieh Mousavi was held through a video call in prison. Their attorneys were not present, and they were not given enough time to defend themselves,” the source added.

According to this source, Harbi received five years, of which she will be in prison in exile for two years. Zeraei and Mousavi are still awaiting the verdict.

According to other reports obtained by HRANA, pre-trial detention’s Elham Modarresi was extended for one month on January 3. Also, another informed source told HRANA that Modarresi was beaten by prison guards to end her hunger strike.

In Iran’s prisons, despite their physical and mental impairments, hunger strikes are common among prisoners. Hunger strikes are used as a last resort for protesting unlawful detention without trials, violations of prisoners’ rights and infringement on due process.

 

 

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
Ethnic Minorities, News
Ahar, Akbar Abolzadeh, Azerbaijani Turk activist, Hunger Strike, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh who is in Tabriz Prison, went on hunger strike in protest against the rejection of his request for furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Azerbaijani Turk Activist Akbar Abolzadeh is on hunger strike since July 17.

In October 2017, the Revolutionary Court of Ahar, East Azerbaijan Province, sentenced Abolzadeh to 10 months in prison for participating in demonstrations against a TV program which insulted Azeri-speaking Iranians. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

On June 7, 2022, the security forces arrested Abolzadeh in Ahar and took him to Ahar Prison.

Trade Union Activist Hassan Saeedi on hunger Strike 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Hassan Saeedi, Hunger Strike

Trade Union Activist Hassan Saeedi has been in solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for about 50 days. Despite poor health conditions, he went on hunger strike about fourteen days ago.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hassan Saeedi, a member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, is still on hunger strike in Evin Prison.

An informed source told HRANA that Saeedi is on the fourteenth day of his hunger strike in solitary confinement despite his poor health and in protest against the extension of his unlawful custody and delay in due process.”

In recent days, in an open letter, Saeedi’s family and nine other detained trade unionists’ families have demanded an end to what they called  baseless lawsuits against trade union activists and their immediate release.

Hassan Saeedi went on hunger strike for four days before to protest against his incarceration in solitary confinement and demanded relocation to the public ward.

On May 18, 2022, security forces arrested Saeedi at his house. They also search the house and confiscated some of Saeedi’s personal belongings.

Trade Union Activist Reza Shahabi Goes on Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Iranian Trade Union Activist, Reza Shahabi, Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Ward 209 of Evin Prison

On Monday, June 13, 2022, Reza Shahabi, trade union activist and a board member of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company started his hunger strike in protest against his prolonged detention. Shahabi who suffers from poor health has been detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison for over 30 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Monday, June 13, 2022, trade union activist Reza Shahabi went on hunger strike to protest against his detention.

Last Sunday, Shahabi’s detention was extended for one month.

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, security forces arrested Reza Shahabi at his house in Tehran.

In previous years, Reza Shahabi faced other arrests and convictions for his civil activities.

Political Prisoner Vahid Bagheri on Nineteenth Day of Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, Vahid Bagheri

Political prisoner Vahid Bagheri who is currently jailed in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary is on the 19th day of hunger strike. Despite his poor health condition,  the prison officials deny his basic demands.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on Saturday, May 28, 2022, Political prisoner Vahid Bagheri is on the 19th day of his hunger strike in the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

On May 10, 2022, Mr Bagheri went on hunger strike in protest against the prison official’s rejection of his request for an early release on probation despite the head of the Judiciary’s agreement.

Earlier, in an open letter, Vahid Bagheri had protested that he is the breadwinner of two families and was imprisoned only for attending a protest.

During the nationwide 2019–2020 Iranian protests known as the Aban Protests, the security forces arrested Bagheri and after a while transferred him from a detention facility to the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary.

Subsequently, branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Bagheri to six years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security”. Applying article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, of the two counts, five years in prison for the charge of “assembly and collusion” is enforceable.

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Teacher Union Activist Esmail Abdi Hospitalized on Sixth Day of Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Esmail Abdi, Evin Prison, Hunger Strike, Teacher union activist

Teacher union activist Esmail Abdi was hospitalized after the sixth day of the hunger strike. Since last Sunday, May 1, Esmail Abdi, who is currently imprisoned in Kachooie Prison, has been on hunger strike in protest against “convictions against teacher union activists and suppression of imprisoned teachers and workers’ families.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association’s Telegram channel, Esmail Abdi was hospitalized due to deteriorating health conditions after six days of hunger strike.

On June 27, 2015, when Abdi went to Evin Courthouse to enquire about the reason for being banned from leaving the country, he was arrested and interrogated for many hours. After six months in detention, in March of that year, he was sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on the charges of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security”, of which, five years was enforceable.

Earlier, Abdi was sentenced to ten years of suspended imprisonment which was supposed to last for five years. However,  while serving the last months of his five years sentence, this suspended sentence was reactivated by the court order.  

Imprisoned Civil Activist Behnam Moosivand Still on Hunger Strike Despite Deteriorating Conditions 

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Behnam Moosivand, Evin Prison, Hunger Strike

Imprisoned civil activist Behnam Moosivand is currently in critical health condition after 16 days of hunger strike. On the eighth day of his hunger strike, he was dispatched to a hospital from the Evin Prison’s quarantine ward.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, jailed civil activist Behnam Moosivand is in critical condition as a result of a prolonged hunger strike.

An informed source close to Moosivand’s family told HRANA: “Behnam has lost a lot of weight and can hardly speak. He suffers from pain and nausea and has to be injected with morphine to relieve the pain. However, he is denied family visitation even though his family has been present at the hospital.”

On April 19, 2022, Moosivand went on a hunger strike in protest against aggressive behavior and assault by prison officers following his objection to being handcuffed during the dispatching to the hospital.

On February 1, 2018, the intelligence officials raided Moosivand’s home and transferred him to the detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence in Evin Prison, known as Ward 209. He was released on bail on March 19, 2018.

Subsequently, in September 2019, branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Moosivand to five years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, and one year on a charge of “propaganda against the regime”. The verdict was upheld on appeal. On June 14, 2020, Moosivand went to Evin for sentencing. In September of 2020, he was sent into exile, to Rajai-Shahr prison in Karaj City.

Political Prisoner at Urmia Prison Mehdi Sane-Farshi Goes on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Mehdi Sane Farshi, Urmia prison

On Monday, April 4, 2022, political prisoner Mehdi Sane-Farshi went on hunger strike in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mehdi Sane-Farshi, imprisoned in Urmia prison, went on hunger strike in protest against increasing pressure on political prisoners and confiscating his personal belongings in prison.

On August 17, 2020, Mehdi Saneh-Farshi who had been back from Turkey to visit his mother was arrested by Intelligence agents and transferred to a detention centre under the Ministry of Intelligence’s control. On September 11, 2020, he was transferred to Urmia Prison after the interrogation ended.

On November 12, 2020, the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced Sane-Farshito to 5 years and 6 months in prison on the charges of “collaboration with one of anti-regime groups and propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld by Branch 1 of the Court of Appeals of West Azerbaijan Province.

Mehdi Saneh-Farshi, age 44, is currently held in Urmia prison in the political prisoners’ ward.

Political Prisoners of Urmia Prison Shaker Behrouz and Nayeb Askari Go on Hunger Strike

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News, Prisoners
Hunger Strike, Nayeb Askari, Shaker Behrouz

On Thursday, March 31, two political prisoners Shaker Behrouz and Nayeb Askari went on hunger strike in Urmia Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, On Thursday, March 31, political prisoner Shaker Behrouz went on hunger strike to protest his relocation to Ward 2 of Urmia Prison where the violent crime offenders were held. Another political prisoner of Urmia prison Nayeb Askari also went on hunger strike after he was sent to the quarantine section.

Earlier, on August 26, 2021, despite the prison doctor’s recommendation for hospitalization, prison officials refused to send Nayeb Askari to a hospital outside the prison. In protest, he went on hunger strike, which ended after a few days.

Askari was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents in Urmia in April and transferred to IRGC detention centres. He was eventually transferred from the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center to the city prison in June, after completing the interrogation process. Askari has been charged with “collaborating with an opposition party”.

On July 12, 2021, a new case was opened against him following the complaint of the head of Urmia Prison. For this case, he was sentenced to three months more imprisonment and 50 lashes for the charge of “Disrupting prison order”.

On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, political prisoner Shaker Behrouz was sentenced to death despite a strong alibi pointing to his innocence.

The indictment alleges that Behrouz murdered a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to an informed source, security agents threatened the victim’s family, who was an IRGC member, to cut their allowance from the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, if they refused to accuse Behrouz.

Another informed source close to the victim’s family also said that the family does not believe he is guilty and ready to testify to his innocence.

Twelve eye-witnesses signed a statement expressing their readiness to testify that Mr. Behrouz was in his shop when the crime was committed. Despite all the above, the court convicted the defendant without the presence of the family as accusers and hearing of eye-witnesses.

 

Political Prisoner Soheila Hejab Goes on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Correctional Center of Kermanshah, Gharchak prison, Hunger Strike, Soheila Hejab

In an open letter, political prisoner Soheila Hejab announced that she has gone on hunger strike following being beaten by prison guards and having the right to family visitation taken away. She is currently serving her sentence in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Soheila Hejab went on hunger strike in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah.

In an open letter, Hejab mentioned the reasons for going on hunger strike. She said the fact that the prison officials did not allow her to go on furlough and receive medical care made her go on strike, “I have no choice but to go on hunger strike once again,” she wrote.

According to an informed source close to Ms. Hejab, on Monday, March 28, prison guards beat her and stopped her from visiting her family while they were waiting for her in the visiting room.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and subsequently released from Evin Prison in Tehran on a bail of 3 billion tomans on March 14, 2020.

Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 18 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “illegal assembly”, “incitement of public opinions to riot” and “organizing unlawful political groups”.

On May 23, 2020, the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guards arrested and transferred Ms. Hejab to Gharchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence. She was then transferred to Sanandaj Prison and then, on January 7, to the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City.