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Iran's notorious prisons, what comes over prisoners?!. |
IRAN: “PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE AT RISK OF DYING AFTER PROLONGED HUNGER
STRIKE” – UNITED NATIONS EXPERT WARNS
GENEVA ( United Nations office) 9 January 2017 - The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Ms. Asma Jahangir, today
raised alarm over the critical health situation of several prisoners of
conscience on prolonged hunger strike in the country.
In recent weeks, at least eight prisoners of conscience have been on life-
threatening hunger strike in Iran to contest the legality of their
detention. Among them are Mr. Saeed Shirzad, Mr. Ali Shariati, Mr. Mohammad
Reza Nekounam, Mr. Hassan Rastegari Majd, Mr. Mehdi Koukhian, Mr. Nizar
Zakka, and Mr. Mohammed Ali Taheri.
Another prisoner, Mr. Arash Sadeghi, ended last week the hunger strike he
had started on 24 October 2016, after his wife -Ms. Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee-
was released on bail.
“Both Mr. Sadeghi and Ms. Ebrahimi Iraee are human rights defenders who have
been imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of
expression and association,” the expert said
The Special Rapporteur noted that, despite his critical health condition,
Mr. Sadeghi is being denied transfer to specialized medical facilities and
is reportedly kept in his cell.
Fears have also been expressed for children’s rights activist Saeed Shirzad,
who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2015, and began a hunger strike
on 7 December 2016, and for Mohammed Ali Taheri, who started a hunger strike
on 28 September and whose whereabouts have been unknown since his reported
transfer to Baghiatollah Military Hospital in October.
The United Nations expert also drew attention to the situation of Hassan
Rastegar Majd, who is reported to be held in solitary confinement in
retaliation for his prolonged hunger strike.
Ms. Jahangir’s call has been endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst; and the Chair-
Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mr. Roland
Adjovi.
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