Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi, Signatory of Letter Calling for Khamenei’s Resignation

Amnesty International on Wednesday, February 3rd, in a letter to the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, called for the immediate and unconditional release of political activist Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi, citing his prolonged detention in solitary confinement at an unofficial detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence in Mashhad.

In the letter addressed to Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’i, it states that Abbas Vahedian has been held since the tenth of Shahrivar of this year in “arbitrary” detention by security forces of the Ministry of Intelligence solely for “peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression and association.”

According to the report, the 51-year-old political activist has spent the past several months “almost continuously in one of the solitary confinement cells” of an unmarked detention facility in Mashhad, without access to fresh air and natural light, and deprived of medical care.

Amnesty International states that intelligence officials told Abbas Vahedian that “to improve his conditions, he must in writing denounce his political activities and disclose his phone password.”

Such measures constitute torture and mistreatment of prisoners and are considered crimes under international law.

Amnesty International adds that the political activist previously suffered deep injuries to his mouth and gums from beatings by security forces during his arrest, and due to delays in treatment, he faces the risk of “gum infection worsening and loss of his teeth.”

His transfer to solitary confinement occurred during the coronavirus pandemic, further endangering the prisoner’s physical health.

Mr. Vahedian has been sentenced to a total of 21 years of imprisonment in two separate trials on charges including “actions against national security” and “collaboration with groups opposed to the system.”

Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi is one of 14 civil and political activists inside Iran who, on June 12, 2019, on the eve of the anniversary of the disputed 2009 presidential election, published an open letter calling for Ali Khamenei’s resignation from leadership and fundamental changes to the constitution. Most of the signatories have been gradually imprisoned and received severe judicial sentences.

Source: Radio Farda