Lack of Information on Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi’s Case; 9 Months in Detention and Uncertainty Due to Criticism of Khamenei

Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi, one of the signatories of a letter calling for Khamenei’s resignation and a political prisoner held in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, remains in complete uncertainty nine months after his arrest.

An informed source told Voice of America on Thursday, April 15, that at least nine months have passed since Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi’s arrest, and despite family’s follow-ups, there has been no progress in his case proceedings. The judge handling the case has repeatedly told the family at the Mashhad Revolutionary Court that “I have not had time to read the file and give my opinion.”

The judge’s statement comes as the coronavirus has spread in Iran, and according to reports, the spread of this virus has resulted in some prisoners becoming infected or even dying in various Iranian prisons.

According to this informed source, with the outbreak of coronavirus in Iranian prisons, Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi’s family has requested temporary release of this political prisoner by contacting Branch 3 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court as well as the Information Protection of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. However, according to them, the responsible authorities did not agree with the family’s request and cited the case being open as the reason for their opposition.

Currently, Mr. Vahedian Shahrudi is suffering from illnesses such as lung infection, and according to his family, this complication has turned into an allergy while in prison.

Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi was arrested on Sunday, August 18, by security forces who beat him in front of his family at his home. He is one of Iran’s political and civil activists who, on June 12 of last year, along with thirteen other activists, sent a letter calling for the resignation of the Islamic Republic’s leader and amendments to Iran’s constitution.

This informed source also told Voice of America that currently, due to a complaint by the General Director of Prisons in Razavi Khorasan Province, a case has been opened against one of Mr. Vahedian Shahrudi’s children under the charge of “spreading lies” for informing about the conditions in Vakilabad Prison regarding inadequate sanitation and nutrition conditions and non-compliance with the law on separation of crimes. The child also faces the risk of imprisonment.

According to this informed source, Abbas Vahedian Shahrudi’s family is requesting temporary release of this political prisoner and hope that, given the unsuitable conditions in Iranian prisons, if the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot address the conditions of prisoners like Mr. Vahedian Shahrudi in prisons, they at least temporarily release them so they can receive treatment at medical centers outside prison.

The U.S. State Department also says that the Iranian regime has arrested thousands of protesters, civil activists, workers’ representatives, and others over the past two years.

Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, said recently in a press conference: “We have asked not only Syria but also the Islamic Republic of Iran to release not only American citizens but all those who have been unjustly imprisoned in these circumstances. This is a humanitarian measure, and beyond the fact that these individuals have been illegally imprisoned, in these circumstances humanitarian principles dictate that they be released from prison.”

Source: Voice of America