Uncertain Status of Political Prisoners’ Release and Continuation of Hunger Strikes in Evin

The spokesperson for the Judiciary stated that 50 percent of political prisoners have been granted furlough, yet many well-known political and security detainees remain imprisoned. Simultaneously, hunger strikes continue in protest against the non-release of political and security prisoners.

Gholamhossein Esmaili, the Judiciary’s spokesperson, stated that alongside the furlough of prisoners convicted of all crimes, “more than 50 percent of security detainees” have also been granted leave. Meanwhile, human rights organizations reported that among these individuals, there is no mention of well-known political prisoners and recognized figures, who continue to remain behind bars.

On Tuesday, the 27th of Esfand (March 17), the Judiciary’s spokesperson held a press conference—conducted without reporters present and via video conference—describing the use of furlough for all prisoners as consistent with “the Judiciary chief’s circular, proper understanding by the judicial system of the current situation, and the multi-year plan for Nowruz.” He stated that thus far, 85,000 prisoners have benefited from this furlough.

According to reports in Iranian media, citing Esmaili, prisoner furloughs have been implemented across all provinces, with “more than 50 percent of political convicts and security detainees” also having been granted leave.

The Judiciary’s spokesperson provided no explanation regarding the timing of temporary release or furlough for remaining political and ideological prisoners.

Reuters news agency reported, citing “activists and human rights groups,” that “Iran has released dozens of political prisoners in recent days, but prominent political detainees remain imprisoned.”

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in Iran and reports of the virus spreading to prisons across the country, many families of political and ideological prisoners made multiple requests to Judiciary officials to prevent infection among these detainees through temporary release and furlough.

According to the Health Ministry’s statistics until noon on Tuesday, the 27th of Esfand, the official death toll from coronavirus in Iran at the time of this report had reached 988 people. From noon on Monday until noon today (Tuesday, the 27th of Esfand), 1,178 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Iran, bringing the total number of infected individuals in the country to 16,169.

Javid Rahman, the UN Human Rights Rapporteur on Iran, also requested last week that officials of the Islamic Republic ensure no discrimination occurs in the furlough and temporary release process for detainees.

Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, began a hunger strike yesterday, the 26th of Esfand, in protest against officials’ prevention of the release of political prisoners.

Ms. Sotoudeh stated that she is concerned that with the continued imprisonment of political detainees and the “deeper and more widespread” expansion of coronavirus, “this deadly virus storm may eliminate political prisoners or their families.”

Razvaneh Ahmadkhanbigi, a civil activist imprisoned in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, also began a hunger strike yesterday in protest against officials’ refusal to grant her furlough.

Protesting political detainees in various halls of Ward 4 of Evin Prison have also abstained from receiving “state food rations” since Sunday, the 25th of Esfand.

These prisoners cited their reason for this protest as officials’ opposition to granting furlough to political detainees following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, stating that they will “abstain from receiving state food rations until the determination of bail and assignment to furlough” and continue with this protest action.

Transfer of 52 Political Prisoners in Evin

Concurrent with the Judiciary’s spokesperson’s press conference in Tehran and the announcement of granting furlough to “more than 50 percent of political prisoners,” Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Iranian human rights activists collective, reported that “over the past month, 52 political and security detainees in Evin Prison have been transferred from Ward 7, Hall 12 of the prison to Ward 4, Hall 1.”

According to Hrana, the transfer of these detainees to Hall 1 of Ward 4 violated the principle of crime separation, and “political and security detainees are now housed alongside prisoners with mahr [dower] debt obligations.”

The charges against these political detainees include matters such as “connection with hostile states” and “espionage.”

Hrana news agency published the list of names of the 52 transferred political and security detainees in Evin Prison and recalled that it has received reports indicating the presence of drug addiction in the new ward housing political and security prisoners.

Source: DW