Tag: Sheiban Prison

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 3: Abdolemam Zaeri

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News, Prisoners
20years, Abdolemam Zaeri, ahvaz, Karun Prison, moharebeh, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars, عبدالامام زائری

HRANA – Many political and religious prisoners in Iran have endured over twenty years behind bars. To prevent their cases from fading from public memory in the flow of daily news, HRANA has launched a series of reports highlighting their situations. Each installment outlines the prisoner’s legal case, detention conditions, access to rights, and immediate needs.

In this installment, HRANA – the news arm of Human Rights Activists in Iran – reviews the current situation of Abdolemam Zaeri after two decades in prison.

Information Summary

• Name: Abdolemam Zaeri

• Year of Arrest: 2005

• Charges Announced: “Acting against national security, moharebeh (enmity against God), and corruption on earth”

• Initial Sentence: Life imprisonment

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment

• Detention Facilities: Initially held in Karun Prison of Ahvaz; later transferred to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where he remains.

• Furlough/Access: No furlough reported in recent years; access to family and lawyer reported as limited.

• Current Status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or reduction.

Case History and Judicial Process

Zaeri was arrested by security forces in 2005. Shortly after, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges of “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”

This life sentence placed him among prisoners with indefinite incarceration—effectively subjecting him to decades of confinement while restricting his access to review mechanisms.

Key Points:

• Severe security charges: The label moharebeh is one of the most severe charges in political-security cases in Iran and carries broad judicial and executive consequences.

• Continued imprisonment despite legal reforms: Although legal changes allow for retrials, sentence reductions, or parole in some cases, Zaeri has remained in prison.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Over the course of his imprisonment, Zaeri has been held in Karun and Sheiban prisons in Ahvaz. He spent several years in Karun Prison before being transferred.

Reports from February 2019 and April 2024 indicate that he was beaten by prison guards and the intelligence protection unit of Sheiban Prison. He remains incarcerated in Sheiban.

Observations on Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Moving between wards and prisons can disrupt access to family, lawyers, and medical care.

• Exposure to violence: Documented beatings in 2019 and April 2024 highlight the need for independent monitoring and legal follow-up.

• Denial of medical care: Despite suffering from stomach bleeding, prostate inflammation, infection and bleeding in the left ear, and stomach ulcers, Zaeri has repeatedly been denied transfer to a hospital or access to specialized treatment. Prison authorities have obstructed care on various pretexts.
Denial of medical treatment is a violation of the fundamental right to health and can amount to inhumane treatment, even endangering life. It is often used as a tool of additional pressure and repression against prisoners.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Furlough

Zaeri has not been granted furlough in recent years. His access to family visits and legal counsel has been restricted. These limitations, beyond their psychological and social toll, also undermine his ability to mount an effective defense or pursue retrial mechanisms.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Reviewing new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws in the ruling.

2. Sentence reduction or conversion: If legal conditions apply.

3. Parole or suspension: Based on time served, good conduct, health status, etc.

4. Pursuing violations of rights during detention: Including denial of medical care, exposure to violence, right to visits, and lawyer access.

5. International documentation and advocacy: Using reporting and human rights mechanisms if domestic avenues remain blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005: Arrest; charged with “acting against national security, moharebeh, and corruption on earth.”

• Initial ruling: Life imprisonment.

• Following years: Held in Karun Prison, Ahvaz.

• Feb 2019: Reported beating in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

• Apr 2024: Reported beating in Ward 5, Sheiban Prison.

• Recent years: No furlough, denied medical care, restricted family and lawyer access.

• Present status: Still serving life imprisonment despite legal reforms that could allow review.

Summary and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrial, sentence reduction, or release for those convicted of moharebeh, Zaeri remains imprisoned.

His case exemplifies the plight of political-security prisoners serving long sentences in Iran. Reviewing such cases is a critical step toward justice and securing their rights.

Zaeri’s file highlights both the deprivation of fundamental rights during incarceration (such as furlough, visitation, and legal access) and the urgent need to utilize all domestic and international mechanisms to seek case review and sentence reduction.

Urgent Needs

• Unrestricted and regular access to lawyer and family.

• Independent medical evaluation, especially regarding reported beatings and chronic conditions.

• Assessment of eligibility for retrial or sentence reduction under updated regulations.

• Enforcement of prison regulations on calls, visits, and furloughs.

• Access to adequate medical services and treatment.

About This Series

This report is part of the “Two Decades Behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Introducing Prisoners – No. 2: Hamzeh Sawari

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News, Prisoners
20years, Ghezel Hesar, Hamzeh Savari, Hamzeh Sawari Laftah, HRANA, Karun Prison, Sheiban Prison, TwoDecadesBehindBars

HRANA – A large number of political prisoners and the prisoners of conscience have spent more than two decades of their lives in Iran’s prisons. To ensure their names are not forgotten amid daily news cycles, HRANA is publishing a series introducing these prisoners and their conditions. Each report reviews their judicial case, detention situation, access rights, and urgent needs.

In this report, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, examines the latest situation of Hamzeh Sawari Laftah after two decades of imprisonment.

Information Summary

• Name: Hamzeh Savari Leftah

• Year of Arrest: 2005 (1384 SH)

• Charges Announced: “Corruption on Earth (efsad fel-arz), moharebeh (enmity against God), and acting against national security”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (reduced by one degree)

• Places of Detention: Three months in Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz), eight years in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj) until 2023, held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison in August 2023, transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj) in September 2023 where he remains.

• Leave/Access: No furlough reported in recent years; limited access to family and lawyer.

• Current Status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or reduction.

Case History and Judicial Process

On September 2, 2005, at the age of just sixteen, Hamzeh Sawari was arrested by security forces. He was sentenced to death by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “corruption on Earth, moharebeh, and acting against national security.” The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. While this change prevented the implementation of the death penalty, it placed him among those condemned to indefinite imprisonment – effectively a punishment that can last for decades and severely limits the possibility of judicial review.

Key points in the process:

• Heavy security charge: The label of “moharebeh” is among the most severe accusations in Iran’s political-security cases, carrying extensive judicial and executive consequences.

• Sentence reduction: The initial death penalty, later converted to life imprisonment, illustrates both the severity of the charges and the possibility of judicial intervention, but does not necessarily mean injustices in the process were remedied.

• Ongoing imprisonment despite legal changes: Although legal reforms could allow for retrial, reduced sentences, or conditional release, Sawari remains in prison.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Hamzeh Savari has been held in multiple prisons: eight years in Karun Prison (Ahvaz), three months in Sheiban Prison (Ahvaz), then transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj). In 2014, he was held in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr, and in 2017 he was violently moved to Ward 10 (Unit 4) of the same prison.

In August 2023, he was transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison, but after one month, he was moved to the security unit (Ward 3) of Ghezel Hesar Prison (Karaj). He staged a hunger strike in protest of these transfers and spent some time in solitary confinement. He has remained in Ghezel Hesar since then.

Observations Related to Detention Standards

• Frequent transfers: Repeated relocations between wards and prisons disrupt access to family, legal counsel, and medical care.

• Solitary confinement as punishment: After arrest, Sawari spent nine months in solitary confinement in The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facilities in Ahvaz and Shiraz. He was repeatedly placed in solitary confinement during his years in Karun Prison. He was again sent to solitary in 2017 after protesting his transfer to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr, in September 2023 after objecting to being moved from Evin to Ghezel Hesar, and once more in August 2025. Such practices conflict with international standards, where solitary confinement must be exceptional, limited, and supervised.

• Exposure to violence in prison: Reports document physical and verbal abuse during his eight years in Karun Prison. In August 2017, he was beaten after being moved from Hall 12 to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr. In September 2023, he was subjected to violence during his forced transfer from Evin to Ghezel Hesar. In August 2025, following his protest against the transfer of political prisoner Saeed Masouri to Zahedan Prison and the executions of Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani, he and several other prisoners were beaten by Ghezel Hesar’s special guard unit. These incidents underscore the need for independent documentation and legal follow-up.

• Deprivation of medical care: Despite suffering from heart disease, lung inflammation, a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee with severe Baker’s cyst, chronic stomach pain, cervical arthritis, and needing spinal surgery, Sawari has been consistently denied hospital transfers and specialist treatment. Denying prisoners access to medical care constitutes inhuman treatment and violates both the right to health and the right to life, often used as a tool of pressure and suppression.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Sawari has not been granted furlough, and his access to family and lawyer remains limited. These restrictions not only harm his social and psychological well-being but also undermine his ability to mount an effective defense and pursue retrial options.

Potential Legal Avenues (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial (E’adeye Dadrasi): Assessing new evidence or substantive/procedural flaws.

2. Sentence reduction/commutation: If legal grounds are available.

3. Conditional release/suspension: Evaluating eligibility based on time served, conduct, and health.

4. Pursuing rights violations during imprisonment: Including denial of medical care, exposure to violence, lack of visitation, and restricted access to legal counsel.

5. International documentation and advocacy: Turning to human rights mechanisms if domestic remedies are blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2005 (1384): Arrested at age 16 on charges of “corruption on Earth, moharebeh, and acting against national security.”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty, later commuted to life imprisonment.

• Post-conviction: Eight years in Karun Prison.

• 2014 (1393): Held in Hall 12 of Rajai Shahr Prison (Karaj).

• 2017 (1396): Beaten; transferred to Ward 10 of Rajai Shahr.

• August 2023 (Mordad 1402): Transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

• September 2023 (Shahrivar 1402): Violently transferred to Ghezel Hesar; solitary confinement.

• August 2025 (Mordad 1404): Beaten and placed in solitary again in Ghezel Hesar.

• Recent years: No furlough, denied medical care, restricted family and lawyer visits.

• Current status: Life sentence continues despite legal reforms that could allow for review.

Conclusion and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrial, reduced sentences, or conditional release for those convicted of moharebeh, Hamzeh Sowari remains imprisoned. His case exemplifies the situation of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran whose cases require urgent review.

It highlights both the denial of fundamental rights during imprisonment (furlough, visits, legal counsel) and the necessity of using all possible domestic and international legal mechanisms to reduce sentences and secure release.

Urgent Needs

• Regular and non-discriminatory access to family and lawyer.

• Independent medical evaluation in cases of alleged abuse or long-term conditions.

• Examination of the possibility of retrial or other mechanisms for reducing/suspending the sentence under updated laws.

• Enforcement of prison regulations regarding contact, visitation, and furlough.

• Access to adequate medical care and treatment.

About this Series

This report is part of the “More than Two Decades behind Bars” series, which aims to document the cases of long-term prisoners and to highlight the collective responsibility to ensure their visibility and pursue their rights.

Following Sentence Consolidation, Shahab Nazari’s Prison Term Increased to 10 Years

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News, Prisoners
Hossein Ali Hatami, Izeh, Khuzestan, Shahab Nazari, Sheiban Prison

HRANA– After the request for sentence consolidation was approved, the Khuzestan Province Court of Appeals increased the prison sentence of Shahab Nazari, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, to 10 years. He had previously been sentenced to a total of 4 years and 91 days in two separate cases.

According to a ruling issued by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeals, Mr. Nazari has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison on four charges. The court sentenced him to five years in prison for the most severe charge, “blasphemy.” He was also sentenced to two years for “spreading falsehoods,” two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and one year for “propaganda against the regime.”

This verdict was issued on July 29, 2025, and was recently communicated to Mr. Nazari’s lawyer, Hossein Ali Hatami.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2025, Shahab Nazari was transferred to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz after appearing at the Sentence Enforcement Office of the Ahvaz Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Nazari, 24-year-old resident of Izeh, was arrested on April 22, 2023, by security forces in Ahvaz and was eventually released on bail of 500 million tomans from Sheiban Prison on May 21, 2023.

Previously, Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court had sentenced him to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and one year for “propaganda against the regime,” totaling three years of imprisonment. This verdict was upheld in full by Branch 14 of the Khuzestan Court of Appeals. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, two years of this sentence are enforceable.

Additionally, in a separate part of the same case, Mr. Nazari was sentenced by Branch 2 of the Ahvaz Criminal Court to one year and 91 days in prison for “spreading falsehoods.” This sentence was also upheld in full by the Khuzestan Court of Appeals.

Ongoing Legal Uncertainty for Amin Ahmadi, 15 Days After Arrest by Intelligence Agents in Izeh

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Amin Ahmadi, Izeh, Sheiban Prison

HRANA – Amin Ahmadi, a resident of Izeh County, has been held in detention for 15 days following his arrest by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. He remains in a state of legal uncertainty in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

Based on information obtained by HRANA, Amin Ahmadi was arrested on July 15, 2025, by Ministry of Intelligence agents at his home in Izeh. In recent days, he was transferred to the quarantine ward of Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz and remains there in legal limbo.

A source close to Mr. Ahmadi’s family confirmed the news to HRANA, stating that agents confiscated several of his personal belongings during the home search following his arrest. The source added that Mr. Ahmadi’s family visited judicial and security offices yesterday to inquire about his situation but were met with silence and indifference from the authorities.

Amin Ahmadi is a resident of Izeh. His case is currently under investigation in Branch 2 of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Public and Revolutionary Court in the county.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the charges against him or the reasons for his arrest.

Concern Over Imminent Executions: Three Political Prisoners Moved to Solitary in Ahvaz’s Sepidar Prison

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News, Prisoners
Adnan Ghobishavi, Ali Mojaddam, and Mohammadreza Moghaddam, Habib Deris, Moein Khanfari, Salem Mousavi, Sepidar Prison, Sheiban Prison

HRANA– Ali Mojaddam, Moein Khanfari, and Mohammadreza Moghaddam, three political prisoners on death row in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, were transferred to solitary confinement on June 26, 2025. Their move has heightened their families’ fears that the executions may be carried out soon.

According to HRANA, prison authorities shifted the men from the general ward to solitary cells on that date, without giving any explanation.

Ali Mojaddam, Mohammadreza Moghaddam, Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghobishavi, and Salem Mousavi were arrested by security forces in Khuzestan Province in February 2019.

Feb-Mar, 2023, the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced: Mojaddam and Moghaddam to death for “leadership and membership in the military wing of the Harakat al-Nidal (in Iran),” deemed an armed rebellion against the Islamic Republic. Khanfari, Deris, Ghobishavi, and Mousavi to death for membership in the same group on the same charge. All verdicts are currently under review by the Supreme Court.

In October 2023, Mojaddam, Moghaddam, Khanfari, and Ghobishavi were moved from Sheiban Prison to Sepidar Prison.

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Mojahed Korkor Executed

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Executions, News
Abbas Korkor, Kian Pirfalak, moharebeh, Mojahed Korkor, Sheiban Prison, عباس کورکور, مجاهد کورکور

HRANA – The Judiciary’s Media Center announced today, Wednesday, June 11, that Abbas (Mojahed) Korkor (Korkori), a prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, has been executed.

The report from Mizan, the Judiciary’s media outlet, states that Korkor had been sentenced to death on three separate counts by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court. The Supreme Court upheld the verdict. He was convicted on charges including moharebeh (enmity against God) for allegedly brandishing a weapon with intent to kill and intimidate the public; corruption on earth through acts of violence using military-grade firearms; and forming and participating in an armed group opposed to the Islamic Republic.

In late-December 2024, Korkor was sentenced to death for the second time by the Revolutionary Court. A previous death sentence had been overturned by the Supreme Court in early-December 2024 and sent back to a parallel court branch for reconsideration.

Korkor had initially been sentenced to death in April 2023 by Branch 1 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges including moharebeh and corruption on earth.

He had been held in solitary confinement at Sheiban Prison since December 20, 2022, and was later transferred to Ward 8 of the prison in August 2024.

The judiciary accused Abbas Korkor of involvement in the killing of Kian Pirfalak, a child who was fatally shot during the nationwide protests. However, the Pirfalak family has publicly rejected this claim. Kian’s mother stated, “On our way home, officers opened fire on our car.”

Korkor was charged with disrupting public order, inflicting fatal injuries resulting in the deaths of seven individuals including Kian Pirfalak, causing serious damage to public and private property, and forming or joining anti-government groups engaged in armed rebellion against the Islamic Republic.

In January 2023, the prosecutor of Izeh announced that 70 people had been charged in connection with the protests held on November 16, 2022. On that day, at least seven people, including Kian Pirfalak, were fatally shot by security forces.

While authorities continue to describe the events of November 16 in Izeh as a “terrorist attack,” eyewitnesses and the families of victims have presented accounts that contradict the government’s narrative.

Mohammad Amouri Sentenced to One Year in Prison on Political Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
ahvaz, Mohammad Amouri, Sheiban Prison

HRANA News Agency –The Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz has sentenced Mohammad Amouri, a citizen held in Sheiban Prison, to one year in prison.

Based on the verdict issued by the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court and communicated to Mr. Amouri, he has been sentenced to one year in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime, with time spent in detention counted toward the sentence.

On January 8, 2025, Mohammad Amouri was arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Ramhormoz and transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. He was eventually moved to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

Mohammad Amouri is a 27-year-old citizen from Ramshir, Khuzestan Province.

Prisoner Executed in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz

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Executions, News
ahvaz, HRANA, Sheiban Prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Thursday,  February 20, 2025, a prisoner convicted of drug-related charges was executed in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz.

According to HRANA, the news arm of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executed prisoner has been identified as Mohsen Sagvand.

Sagvand had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by a judicial authority.

As of the time of this report, Iranian authorities and prison officials have not publicly announced his execution.

According to data compiled by HRANA, 52.69% of all executions in Iran in 2024 were related to drug-related charges. Notably, only 6% of the executions were officially announced, highlighting a significant lack of transparency. For a detailed analysis of these executions and the associated statistics, see HRANA’s full report.

Over 110 Days in Limbo: Mohammad Loveimi’s Case Remains Unclear

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, HRANA, Mohammad Loveimi, Sheiban Prison, محمد لویمی

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Loveimi, a political detainee, has been held in uncertainty at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz for nearly four months since his arrest, with no clear charges or legal proceedings in sight.

A source familiar with his case confirmed to HRANA: “More than 110 days have passed since Mr. Loveimi’s arrest, yet he remains in legal limbo at Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. There is still no information about the reasons for his detention or the charges against him, and authorities have not allowed his release on bail.”

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mohammad Loveimi was arrested by security forces in November 2024 and transferred to Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.

Earlier in 2024, Loveimi had been released from the same prison after completing a nine-month sentence.

Mokhtar Alboshokeh Exposes Torture and Medical Neglect in Ahvaz Police Detention

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News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Mokhtar Alboshokeh, Sheiban Prison, مختار آلبوشوکه

HRANA News Agency – Mokhtar Alboshokeh, a political prisoner held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, has described the physical and psychological torture he endured in one of the police detention facilities in Ahvaz in an open letter.

In the letter, he recounts how officers subjected him to verbal sexual harassment and repeatedly struck his abdomen despite being aware of his hernia condition. These violent acts exacerbated his illness, causing severe pain. Alboshokeh, who is serving a life sentence, also reveals that he has been deprived of essential medical treatment, despite medical recommendations. Instead of receiving appropriate care, he has been forced to rely on heavy painkillers and medications to endure the pain caused by his condition and the torture.

Previously, Alboshokeh was removed from prison on orders from the Iranian Cyber Police (FATA) and was subsequently beaten while in one of the police detention centers in Ahvaz. His letter details the worsening of his condition due to the violent acts and the resulting injuries.

Here is the full text of Mokhtar Alboshokeh’s letter:

“When you’ve been in prison for 14 years with a life sentence plus five more years, even a glimpse of the streets, cars in motion, the trees lining the boulevards, or the hurried faces of people seems like embarking on a luxurious tour to see the most beautiful sights in the world. That’s why, on December 6, 2024, when I was called and escorted to a car within the prison grounds, a spark of excitement ignited in me. This feeling lasted only until I left the prison gate with a group of plainclothes agents I didn’t recognize. The person in the front seat turned, punched me hard in the face, and instructed his colleague beside me, ‘Put a blindfold and handcuffs on this scum!’

Holding my aching face, I resisted while the two officers beside me wrenched my hands away, forcing them behind my back to handcuff me. Their aggressive actions caused severe pain as I caught the last fleeting glimpses of the world outside the prison before a blindfold plunged me into complete darkness. At that moment, it struck me: ‘Mokhtar, this isn’t a sightseeing trip. There will be no boulevards, trees, cars, or faces of passersby to marvel at.’ But even then, I didn’t anticipate the extent of torture awaiting me—especially after spending 14 years in prison!

I tried to reassure myself: ‘I’ve already spent 14 years in prison with a life sentence for a crime I didn’t commit. What more could they want from me to justify tormenting me further?’ While I was lost in these thoughts, a powerful punch to my lower abdomen left me doubled over in pain. Reflexively, I said, ‘Please, don’t hit me! I have a severe hernia.’ The officer next to me, seemingly thrilled by this information, sneered and said, ‘Oh, even better!’ He hurled vulgar sexual insults and added, ‘A hernia, huh? I’ll make you forget all about it!’ before landing another brutal punch to the same spot.

During the drive to their detention center, their relentless barrage of obscene insults directed at my mother, sister, and family was so psychologically painful that it almost distracted me from the physical pain of their punches and slaps. After arriving at the facility—later revealed to belong to the Ahvaz Cyber Police (FATA)—I endured severe torture for several days.

I lost track of time but eventually passed out from the repeated punches and kicks, especially to my abdomen. When I regained consciousness, I found myself chained to a hospital bed with handcuffs and leg shackles. A man, presumably a doctor, was pleading with the officers, saying, ‘This man has a severe hernia, and there’s a high risk of rupture. He needs to stay here and undergo immediate surgery.’ Ignoring him as though he were talking to a wall, the plainclothes officers dragged me off the hospital bed after re-blindfolding and handcuffing me, returning me to their torture chamber.

This cycle of torture, vulgar insults aimed at my family, losing consciousness, being taken to the hospital, the doctor’s pleas for urgent treatment, and the officers’ indifference repeated itself. All of this happened while I was on a hunger strike. Eventually, I was returned to Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. And why did they do all this? Because they found my name in the contact list of a phone belonging to someone who had been arrested. I’ve been in their prison for 14 years!

When I returned to the prison ward, I initially thought I had been gone for over two months. My cellmates reminded me it had only been 12 days—from December 6 to December 18. Now, a month after those events, I feel an irreparable void inside me—not because of the physical torture, but because of the psychological torment of their relentless vulgar insults against my loved ones. It’s a wound that will never heal.”

Background on Mokhtar Alboshokeh

Mokhtar Alboshokeh was arrested by security forces in March 2011 in the city of Khalafabad (also known as Ramshir) in Khuzestan Province. In July 2012, he was sentenced to death by Branch 3 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Mousavi, on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God), efsad-e-fel-arz (spreading corruption on earth), propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and actions against national security. His death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.