“Amir Ali Minai” Christian Citizen Imprisoned in Evin Begins Hunger and Medicine Strike

Amir Ali Minai, a Christian citizen imprisoned in Evin Prison, has begun a hunger and medicine strike in protest of his condition.

Amir Ali Minai, a Christian citizen, was arrested in December 2023 and spent more than two months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. After several interrogation sessions, he was temporarily released on a bail of 600 million tomans. Due to psychological pressure during his initial detention and threats of re-imprisonment, he developed a heart condition.

In March 2024, Judge “Iman Afshar,” head of the Revolutionary Court, sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison and also issued a ruling to deprive him of social rights after completing his prison sentence. The charge against him is “propaganda activities against the system through launching a house church.”

Amir Ali, 31 years old, has been imprisoned in Evin since April 2024. In recent months, after requesting medical examination, he was severely beaten by one of the prison guards, which aggravated his heart condition. Additionally, in March, while exercising in the ward’s outdoor courtyard, he suffered a severe foot injury and fracture. His cellmates transferred him to the prison clinic, but he did not receive adequate medical care.

According to his cellmates’ statements, Amir Ali requested transfer to a hospital, but faced resistance and negligence from prison officials, which worsened his foot condition and made it difficult for him to walk. After ten days, he was finally transferred to the hospital, and doctors merely applied a splint to his foot. However, on April 10, they placed his foot in a cast. It should be noted that due to lack of medical care and deterioration of his foot condition, radiological images show that Amir Ali requires surgery.

He had previously begun a hunger strike in protest of the lack of medical attention to his physical condition. Now, due to lack of phone access during his imprisonment, he has also stopped taking his heart medications.

“Mansour Borji,” director of Article 18 Organization, responded to Amir Ali Minai’s situation saying: “We are deeply concerned about Amir Ali’s condition, especially given his heart disease. We urge Iranian authorities to immediately restore his access to a telephone. We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of this young man, whose only crime was gathering to pray and worship with his fellow believers. The Islamic Republic must, in accordance with the international treaties it has signed and even its own constitution, end the persecution and harassment of Christians, particularly converts.”

Mansour Borji further commented on the situation of prisoners: “Prisoners are often forced to accept conditions outside the legal framework in order to benefit from privileges such as temporary leave, amnesty, or early release. Authorities and interrogators are trying to employ these individuals as informants or collaborators; that is, people who appear to continue their normal daily lives but secretly gather information about other Christians and their activities. This practice constitutes a form of coercion that further violates prisoners’ rights and places them under continuous surveillance and pressure.”