Narges Mohammadi Says Qarchak Prison is an Exile for ‘Gradual Death of Prisoners’
Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist serving her sentence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, released a letter describing the deplorable conditions of the prison and wrote: “Qarchak Prison is an exile for the gradual death of prisoners.”
In this letter, published by Tagi Rahmani, Ms. Mohammadi’s husband, on his Instagram page on Monday, the 25th of Bahman, the imprisoned human rights activist, referring to the unsuitable water conditions, unpleasant sewage odor, and poor heating conditions in the prison, announced that she has sent a letter to the Deputy Attorney General of the country and stated that if not addressed, “we will protest against this gradual and continuous torture of prisoners.”
Narges Mohammadi, spokesperson and vice-chair of the Iran Human Rights Defenders Center, noting that prison officials are aware of the “non-potable water” conditions in this prison, and according to inspectors’ statements, the prison’s water system is unsanitary, described this behavior as a form of threat against prisoners, particularly political and ideological prisoners, with the aim of eliminating them.
Yesterday, Tagi Rahmani also reported that Narges Mohammadi had stated that in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, “the right to breathe clean air and drink normal water” has been taken from prisoners, writing in a tweet: “This prison has regrettable conditions that must be addressed.”
This is not the first time a political prisoner has reported the poor conditions of Qarchak Prison in Varamin. Previously, in late Mordad of 1398, Atefeh Rangriz, a women’s rights and labor activist, wrote a letter from Qarchak Prison in Varamin describing the living conditions and circumstances in the prison, in which she compared the wards of Qarchak Prison to a train and the rooms of each ward to train cabins, writing “Qarchak is an alias for hell.”
Just two days after this letter was published on social media, approximately 200 female prisoners in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, in protest of the sanitary and living conditions in the prison, wrote a letter to Hasmatollah Hayat-Alghaib, the general director of prisons in Tehran Province, stating that the prison’s food situation is very unsuitable, drinking water is scarce, and prisoners are forced to buy expensive and low-quality clothing from the prison shop.
Narges Mohammadi was arrested on the 25th of Aban during the second anniversary of the November 2019 protests and while participating in a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of the death of Ibrahim Ketabdar, one of the victims of these protests in Karaj. In a brief phone call from Evin Prison, she reported receiving a sentence of “30 months imprisonment” and said she would be flogged.
In early Bahman, Tagi Rahmani also announced a new sentence of 8 years and 2 months imprisonment, 74 lashes, 2 years exile from Tehran, 2 years prohibition from activity in institutions and parties, and 2 years prohibition from presence and activity on social networks and interviews for Narges Mohammadi, and told Voice of America that Ms. Mohammadi has been sentenced again due to her activities in the past year and during her period of freedom.
Source: Radio Farda
