HRANA Recap: Recent Hunger Strikes in Iranian Prisons

Khalid Pirzadeh on a hunger strike in the Greater Tehran Prison

 

On May 31, political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh went on a hunger strike for the second time this year in the Greater Tehran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Pirzadeh has been denied visitations and leave in the 25 months since his imprisonment.

Earlier this year, Pirzadeh went on a hunger strike following the failure of authorities to fulfill their promise to agree to parole. Pirzadeh ended his hunger strike in March after authorities promised that his demands would be met.

In May of 2019, the political prisoner was sentenced by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, to 5 years in prison, and an additional 2 years for “insulting the leadership”.  According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, of the 7 total years, 5 can be enforced on Pirzadeh on the charge of “conspiracy and collusion”.

Khaled Pirzadeh underwent foot surgery in August 2020. His legs and spine were severely damaged during detention and required further surgery and physiotherapy. He was also barred from being hospitalized in December 2020 despite having a heart problem.

 

 

Iraj Hatami on a hunger strike in protest of continued imprisonment in Rajai Shahr Prison 

 

On May 30, Iraj Hatami, currently being held in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, went on a hunger strike to protest his continued imprisonment and the fact that previous time served in detention has not been counted towards his 10 year sentence.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  Hatami was arrested by security forces in October 2010 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of “collaborating with a hostile US government”.

Before his arrest, Hatami worked for the Ministry of Defense and spent two years and three months in military detention. Had this time been counted by prison officials, Hatami’s 10 year sentence would have ended last year. Mr. Hatami suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

 

Farzad Samani on a hunger strike in the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center in Urmia

 

Farzad Samani, a student detained in one of the IRGC intelligence detention centers in Urmia, went on a hunger strike on May 30.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Samani has been on a hunger strike to protest pressure from the IRGC’s intelligence services and the extension of his and Sakar Eini’s imprisonment for the sixth consecutive time.

The undergraduate student was arrested in his dormitory at Kharazmi University in Karaj in December 2020, and was later transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center in Urmia.

So far, no information is available on the charges against Samani and Eini.

 

 

Hossein Hashemi on a hunger strike in Tehran Prison after his punitive transfer

 

On Tuesday, June 1, political prisoner Hossein Hashemi went on a hunger strike in the Greater Tehran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  Hashemi is one of the detainees from the November 2019 nationwide protests.

Per the report, Hashemi was taken from the ward under the pretext of going to interrogation, but was then transferred to the 4th section of the Greater Tehran Prison, which holds prisoners accused of violent crimes.

It is said that Mr. Hashemi’s transfer took place following a verbal argument with Eliassi, the supervising prosecutor of the Evin court. Eliassi had previously threatened to move Hussein Hashemi to a place where he would regret his actions.

 

 

Abolfazl Ghasali went on a hunger strike in Evin prison in Tehran

Tehran resident Abolfazl Ghasali, currently serving out a sentence in Evin Prison, has been on a hunger strike since May 27.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ghasali demands to be granted leave of absence during the COVID-19 outbreak, release on parole due to family’s financial problems, and a retrial.

Ghasali has had several nosebleeds since the day he started the hunger strike. The prisoner is also said to have suffered heart and lung problems during his detention due to poor nutrition and poor prison conditions. He also went on a hunger strike in December last year to protest the failure to address his needs.

In 2018, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced Ghasali to a total of 7 years in prison on charges of “Gathering and colluding and disturbing public order with the intention of committing a crime against national security”, and “insulting the Supreme Leader”.

3 years and 6 months of imprisonment are enforceable under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

 

Political Prisoners’ Protests in Rajai Shahr Prison Continue

HRANA News Agency – The protest of the political prisoners in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj is still ongoing through refusing to receive the diet after several weeks. The prison authorities refuse to provide the blankets and sell heating supplies. Prison authorities use these restrictions to put pressure on political prisoners in prison. In addition, prison officials recently transferred three political prisoners in the ward to non-political wards to increase pressure on prisoners following the continuation of protests in the ward.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), after several weeks, the protest of the political prisoners in ward 10 of Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, is still ongoing. Continue reading “Political Prisoners’ Protests in Rajai Shahr Prison Continue”

The Latest List of Political Prisoners in Hall 10 of Rajai Shahr Prison

HRANA News Agency – At least 30 political prisoners in Ward 10 in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, still continue to protest by refusing to accept the prison’s food. In protest against the unlawful deprivations and restrictions imposed on them, they demand the delivery of their lost and stolen personal stuff and equipment from the prison authorities. The Equipment of 35 rooms in prison is worth 3,85 billion IRR.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), 21 days after the beginning of the protest of political prisoners in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, by refusing to accept the prison’s food, and in spite of the prosecutor’s office’s promise to improve the situation, there has been no changes in the conditions of this place. Continue reading “The Latest List of Political Prisoners in Hall 10 of Rajai Shahr Prison”

New Radio Jammer Machines in Rajai Shahr Prison Put Prisoners’ Health at Risk

HRANA News Agency – With the installation of numerous devices of Mobile crushers (Radio Jammer machines), on the roof of Hall 12, the whereabouts of security-political prisoners in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, some medical problems, including headaches and dizziness for these prisoners have been more intensive. This issue has caused a number of the prisoners to go to the prison infirmary, in recent days. Prison officials have said the aim of installing this device was to make problems for the illegal phones that might be used by the prisoners. This claim is while the inspection rules and strict controls are used over the political prisoners in the prison.
A source close to these prisoners, told HRANA’s reporter: “Recently a number of radio jammer machines have been installed on the roof of Hall 12 which caused lot of headache for prisoners.” Continue reading “New Radio Jammer Machines in Rajai Shahr Prison Put Prisoners’ Health at Risk”

Political Prisoners Kept along with Death Row Prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison

HRANA News Agency – Despite repeated claims of the prisons and security officials of addressing the principle of separation of prisoners on the base of their crimes in prisons, a large number of political or security prisoners have been exiled to Rajai Shahr prison where is the whereabouts of prisoners of violent crimes, a batch of prisoners who are kept separate from other political prisoners in the prison suffer more than the others. At least 20 prisoners in the prison are kept out of the dedicated place to political prisoners and with lots of problems.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the Department of Prisons claimed to address the principle of separation of prisoners on the base of their crimes in Iran’s prisons. According to the head of the Department, the country’s prisons have general classification, for example Rajai Shahr prison belongs to prisoners of violent crimes and Tehran prison belongs to prisoners on charge of theft crimes, also the Department claimed to address this principle inside the wards, too. Continue reading “Political Prisoners Kept along with Death Row Prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison”

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Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Different Prisons

HRANA News Agency – Political prisoners such as Seyed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, Amir Amrgholi, Saeed Shirzad, Afshin Baymany, Masoud Arabchobdar, Farid Azmodeh, Iraj Hatami, Behzad Tarahomi, Saleh Pychganloo, Mostafa Parvin, Saeed Sadeghifar and Morteza Parvin are on hunger strike in various prisons around the country with various demands. According to prisoners’ families in some cases they refuse to drink water. Hussein Ronaghi maleki’s father is one of those who has begun strike in support of his son in front of Evin Prison.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Seyed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, Amir Amrgholi, Saeed Shirzad, Afshin Baymany, Masoud Arabchobdar, Farid Azmodeh, Iraj Hatami, Behzad Tarahomi, Saleh Pychganloo, Mostafa Parvin, Saeed Sadeghifar and Morteza Parvin are on hunger strike. The families of Ronaghi and Amirgholi said to HRANA’s reporter that their children refuse to drink water as well. Continue reading “Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Different Prisons”

Iraj Hatami Beaten in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj

HRANA News Agency – Iraj Hatami, political prisoners detained in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, who is kept with the prisoners of serious crimes in exile, was beaten by a number of prisoners.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Iraj Hatami who has gone on hunger strike since 26th March to protest against being exiled from political prisoners’ ward was beaten by a number of prisoners for unknown reasons. Continue reading “Iraj Hatami Beaten in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj”

5 Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Different Prisons

HRANA News Agency – Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, Saeed Razavi Faqih, Iraj Hatami, Farid Azmodeh and Behzad Tarahomi are five political-security prisoners on hunger strike in different prisons.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), Hossein Ronaghi Maleki and Saeed Razavi Faqih are two political prisoners and patients in ward 7 of Evin prison who are on the 4th and 7th day of their hunger strike because of lack of investigation to their therapeutic situation. So far, their requests have not been addressed by the authorities. Continue reading “5 Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Different Prisons”

Special Guards Raided Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr Prison

HRANA News Agency – Special guards raided to the 4th ward of hall number 12 in Rajai Shahr prison and transferred several political prisoners to the other wards by force on Saturday, March 12.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), special guards raided to the 4th ward of hall number 12 Rajai Shahr prison and after inspection, for unknown reasons transferred several prisoners including Farid Azmodeh to ward 1 and Iraj Hatami to ward 3 of hall number 12 in Rajai Shahr prison on the morning of Saturday, March 12. Continue reading “Special Guards Raided Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr Prison”

The List Of Over 80 Political Prisoners In Rajai Shahr Prison In Karaj

HRANA News Agency – The following list includes names, warrants and charges of more than 80 political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and security in Rajai Shahr prison which has been prepared by the reporters of HRANA.
A diverse range of prisoners charged with political, conscience, military and security allegations are being held in Rajai Shahr prison. Although many of these prisoners are kept in separate rooms in Hall 12 but a large number of these prisoners are being kept also between non-political, criminals and sometimes dangerous prisoners unlike the principle of separation of crimes. Continue reading “The List Of Over 80 Political Prisoners In Rajai Shahr Prison In Karaj”