Tag: Hunger Strike

Hossein Ronaghi Maleki Released on Bail after Seven Days Detention

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, Hunger Strike

On  March 2, civil activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was released on bail from prison. On February 23, his family announced that he was missing. After three days of inquiry at Evin Courthouse, their lawyers found out that he had been abducted by security forces and detained in Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on the fifth day of detention, Ronaghi’s brother, Hasan Ronaghi, announced that he was allowed to make a phone call. Hossein Ronaghi Maleki told his family that he had been on hunger strike since the arrest, which raised concerns due to his poor health condition, including  severe kidney problems.

Ronaghi has faced other arrests and convictions due to his civil activities.

In 2009, IRGC intelligence agents arrested him and detained him for ten months in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison. On October 5, 2010, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. The verdict was upheld on appeal and he was sent to Ward 350 of Evin Prison. In May of 2016, he was released from jail after granting an imprisonment intolerance certificate due to his severe kidney problems.

Civil Activist Arasham Rezai On Hunger Strike, Refuses to Take Medicine

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Activist imprisoned, Arasham (Mahmood) Rezai, Arasham Rezai, Hunger Strike, prisoners rights

Imprisoned civil activist Arasham (Mahmood) Rezai went on hunger strike and refused to take medicine in protest against the refusal of his request for medical furlough. He needs urgent treatment for a hiatal hernia, stomach infection and duodenal ulcer.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Rezai, a civil activist imprisoned in Rajai Shahr Prison, went on a hunger strike and refused to take his medicines.

On February 2, 2022, he was dispatched to the Hospital in Karaj City where he was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, stomach infection and duodenal ulcer for which he needs treatment. Nonetheless, his request for a medical furlough has been rejected.

Moreover, he is suffering from damages to his left knee due to torture and being beaten by a shocker.

According to an informed source, prison officials will not dispatch him to a hospital for an MRI despite the prescription of a prison doctor.

Rezai was arrested on January 7 of 2019 by the regime’s intelligence and security forces. On November 13 of that year, he was released on bail for 2 billion Rial (approx. 8000 dollars).

On February 26, 2019, the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced Rezai, without informing the defendant’s attorney that the court session was taking place, to eight years and six months imprisonment on the charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “assembly and collusion against national security”, and “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran”. Grounded on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, for the second charge, the severest punishment of 5 years was enforceable.

To serve his sentence, on October 18, 2020, he was arrested and transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Rajai Shahr Prison. Finally, he was relocated to a public section of this prison on December 19 2020.

On January 20 of this year, on new charges, the revolutionary court sentenced him to an additional 15 months imprisonment (which was later reduced to 11 months on appeal) and 4 months penal labour.

Soheila Hejab Beaten and Threatened Following Protest Against Poor Quality Prison Food

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Correctional Center of Kermanshah, Hunger Strike, Political Prisoner, Soheila Hejab

Since January 31, inmates of the women’s ward in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah have refused to get their meals in protest against the poor quality of the prison food. During the protest, the head of the prison guards beat political prisoner Soheila Hejab and threatened to open a new legal case against her and send her to an exile prison. Other protesting prisoners have been threatened with denial of visits and phone calls.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source stated that “on the first day, Soheila Hejab brought a piece of burned food to the head of the prison and asked her if he [could] eat it. He responded that they are running low on budget and therefore the food is what it is. When Soheila Hejab was returning to her ward, she saw the decorations for celebrating Fajr decade (an annual ten-day celebration for the triumph of the 1979 revolution). She protested why they do not use the costs of this celebration for improving food quality. Following a verbal quarrel, in response, the Head of Prison Guards Leila Hosseini-Nia beat her hard in the chest and hit her with a mirror.”

According to this source, prison officials have tried to accuse her of provoking a riot in prison. They have threatened to deny other prisoners visitations and phone calls unless they corroborated this and signed reports as witnesses.

Once before, in October 2021, Hejab was beaten in Qarchak Prison while on hunger strike.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and then 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 her 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.

Sunni Prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf Sews Lips Together to Protest Lack of Furlough

Posted on by A MN
News, Religious Minorities
Arkan Palani Jaf, Hunger Strike, prisoner protest, protest, Sunni, sunni prisoner

Sunni prisoner Arkan Palani Jaf sewed his lips together in protest against the prison’s refusal to grant him furlough after several requests. Jaf has spent more than four  of his seven year sentence without furlough.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, a note from this prisoner which has been reached to HRANA, he complained that his request for furlough had been dismissed many times and that his family was rejected and humiliated by prison authorities in Evin Courthouse.

Earlier, on Monday, December 17, 2021,  he went on hunger strike, which ended after a few days.

Jaf was arrested in 2016 and sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 7 years on the charge of “collaboration with ISIS”. According to an informed source, the security agents wanted to arrest his brother and when they failed, arrested him instead despite having no evidence for his association with ISIS.

Jaf is 28 years old and a resident of Sarpol Zahab City. He is currently jailed in Rajai Shahr Prison.

Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani Transferred to Solitary Confinement While Still on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani, Hunger Strike, Maryam Seddigh Hamedani, Salar Seddigh Hamedani, solitary confinement

Political prisoner Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Marivan Prison while still on hunger strike.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Hamedani and his son Salar Seddigh Hamedani have been on hunger strike for more than 11 days in protest against the housing of political prisoners in the same ward as prisoners of violent crime, which is in violation of prison regulations.

Hamdeani and his son were earlier transferred from Urmia Prison to Marivan and Kamyaran prisons, respectively.

An informed source HRANA that his health has been affected by the ward and by the hunger strike: “Considering that he suffers from diabetes, his health condition was exacerbated due to the continuation of the hunger strike. He has told to his family that most of his fellow prisoners in his ward use drugs which makes him exposed to drug pollution”.

On February 23, 2019, Hamedani was arrested alongside along his son Salar and daughter Maryam Seddigh. He was transferred to Urmia Central Prison on April 23, 2019.

Maryam Seddigh Hamedani was released from prison on April 25, 2019.

Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced both to 16 years imprisonment on the charges such as “acting against national security through membership in one of the anti-regime organizations” and “propaganda against the regime.”

In August of 2020, while they were spending their sentence terms, they were relocated to the detention centre of the Ministry of intelligence in Urmia city and interrogated for allegedly “propaganda against the regime inside prison.” Subsequently, a new legal case was opened against them.

In 2005, Ebrahim Seddigh Hamedani had earlier been sentenced to six years imprisonment for the same charges. He was released after serving two and a half years of his sentence on probation.

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Adel Kianpour Dead in Sheyban Prison After a Week on Hunger Strike

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Adel Kianpour, Ahvaz city, Behnam Mahjubi, Death in prison, Hunger Strike, prisoner death, Sasn Niknafs, Sheyban Prison

On January 1, after a week on hunger strike, political prisoner Adel Kianpour died in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz City. Judicial authorities have not yet announced the reason for his death.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kianpour was on hunger strike to protest the proceedings of his case.

Not much is known about his legal case. It is said that he was arrested after his return to Iran and has been imprisoned in Sheyban Prison for 14 months. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison for charges unknown in our report. Last October, he contracted COVID-19.

There are many precedents for the death of prisoners due to lack of adequate medical treatment in Iran’s prisons. In June 2021, political prisoner Sasan Niknafs died due to inadequate medical treatment in the Greater Tehran Prison. Also last year, Sufi Dervish activist Behnam Mahjubi was dispatched from Evin Prison to a hospital in Tehran City and allegedly died due to pill poisoning.

Inmate Dead After Hunger Strike and Suicide Attempt in Ilam Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
death of a prisoner, Hunger Strike, Ilam prison, Lack of medical care in prison, prisoner death, prisoner suicide, Ruhollah Maleki, suicide

On December 1, an inmate in Ilam Prison died of injuries stemming from a suicide attempt and inadequate medical treatment. The day before, the inmate had attempted suicide by pill following a four day hunger strike. After having his stomach pumped in prison healthcare, he was sent back to his ward without any medical supervision.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, the inmate was 30 year old Ruhollah Maleki. His death ultimately resulted from inadequate medical treatment and supervision by prison officials.

Maleki was sent back to his ward while he was still in critical health condition and in need of regular medical supervision. Moreover, he was beaten by prison guards and held in a solitary confinement cell on the second day of his hunger strike.

On March 6, 2013, Maleki was arrested for committing murder. He was sentenced to capital punishment in 2014.

Nosrat Beheshti Released on Bail From Vakilabad Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners, Women
Hunger Strike, Mashad, Nosrat Beheshti, Vakilabad prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad

Civil activist and retired educator Nosrat Beheshti was released from Vakilabad Prison on bail of 1 billion tomans (237,955 USD). Her release is temporary, extending from Tuesday, November 30 until the end of legal proceedings.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Beheshti has been in detention since her August 4 arrest. She was tried by Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Mansourim, on the charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “acting against national security”. She was sentenced to 5 years in prison on November 14.

On October 24, Beheshti began a hunger strike to protest prison officials’ refusal to send her to an outside hospital to treat her kidney pain. The strike lasted four days, and was resolved when she was dispatched to a hospital for treatment.

She has previously faced arrests due to her civil activities.

Political Prisoner Injured After Protest by Self-Immolation in Evin Prison

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
Article 134, Darini, Evin, Evin Prison, Hunger Strike, Islamic penal code, Mehdi Darini, protest, Revolutionary Court of Tehran, self-immolation, Tehran

On Wednesday, October 27, political prisoner Mehdi Darini was injured by self-immolation and hospitalized in the healthcare center of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Darini’s demonstration was in protest of prison authorities’ refusal to release him on probation. He is currently enduring the second year of a five year term in Evin Prison in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA that Darini had previously warned prison officials about his intentions if the interrogator refused to consider his demand to be released.

During the last interrogation, in response to his stating his intention to go on a hunger strike, the interrogator reportedly said, “All the better; the regime has already too many hungry mouths to feed.”

35-year-old Mehdi Darini, a production engineer, was sentenced to five years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on a charge of ” blasphemy” and one year on a charge of “propaganda against the regime”. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, a severest punishment of five years is enforceable.

Khaled Pirzadeh Still on Hunger Strike Despite Critical Health Condition

Posted on by A MN
News, Prisoners
ahvaz, Ali Sharif-Zadeh, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Hunger Strike, Khaled Pirzadeh, Pirzadeh, Pirzadeh hunger strike, Sheyban Prison

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in-exile political prisoner Khaled Pirzadeh is still on hunger strike after 46 days in Sheyban Prison in Ahvaz.

His health condition is unstable and he endures low blood pressure and blood sugar. He is also denied the right to have a phone call to contact his family.

Since August 23, 2021, this political prisoner has been on hunger strike in protest against declining his request for the release on probation, the housing of political prisoners in the same ward with prisoners of violent crimes, and police officers’ brutal behaviour towards his family members during the delivery of eviction order.

Expressing his deep concern about Pirzadeh’s condition, the lawyer Ali Sharif-Zadeh asked the authorities to agree on this political prisoner’s release on probation.

“His family informed that he is denied any access to a phone call and he is enduring critically low blood pressure and blood sugar. His life is in jeopardy,” Sharif-Zadeh tweeted.

On May 26, 2019, Khaled Pirzadeh was arrested violently by security forces and after ending the interrogation process, he was sent to Evin Prison. He was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment on the charges of “offensive statements against the supreme leader of Iran” and “assembly and collusion against the regime”. This sentence was confirmed in the court of appeals. According to article 134 of the Islamic penal code, 5 years of this sentence for the charge of “collusion against the regime” is enforceable.

He was relocated to Greater Tehran Prison on July 22, 2020. Reportedly, at the time of transferring, he was beaten by prison guards. In August 2020, he had surgery on his foot. Moreover, he needs additional treatment and surgery for his injured spine. On July 14, 2021, they transferred him from Greater Tehran prison to exile to Sheyban prison in Ahvaz and held him unlawfully in the ward where the prisoners of violent crimes were housed.