Two Political Prisoners Launch Hunger Strike at Karaj Central Prison
“Mehdi Farahi Shandiaz” and “Mohammad Riazat,” two political prisoners held at Karaj Central Prison, have launched a hunger strike in protest of unsuitable conditions at the facility.
According to a report by the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, the two political prisoners, who are serving their sentences at Karaj Central Prison, began their hunger strike on Thursday, October 25, in protest of poor sanitation conditions, lack of hot water, and insufficient facilities at the prison. On Friday, October 26, they were transferred to solitary confinement.
According to the report, Mohammad Riazat and Mehdi Farahi Shandiaz had previously, in mid-August, along with two other political prisoners named “Amir Ali Moradi” and “Alireza Barzegar,” sent a letter to Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing the poor conditions at the facility, widespread corruption, abuse, and drug distribution within the prison.
Based on available information, Mohammad Riazat was detained during nationwide protests in August of last year in Karaj and was later temporarily released on bail pending the completion of legal proceedings.
The political prisoner was sentenced to three years in prison by Mohammadi Zaynali, head of the Fourth Branch of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, on charges of “insulting the founder and leadership” and “propaganda against the system.” He was detained for enforcement of the sentence as of the 19th of Azar of the current year and transferred to Karaj Central Prison.
Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code regarding sentence aggregation, only two years of this sentence are enforceable as the most severe penalty.
Mehdi Farahi Shandiaz was also sentenced to three years in prison by Judge Maghasseh, head of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, on charges of “insulting the leadership” and “disturbing public order.” This sentence was issued despite reports indicating that the political prisoner was not informed of the court hearing, and the sentence was neither served to him nor his lawyer, but was instead directly recorded on the prisoner’s status sheet.
In two other separate cases, this political prisoner was also tried in February 2015 in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court under Judge Selavati and in May 2011 in a court hearing under Judge Maghasseh on charges of “insulting the leadership,” receiving three-year sentences in each case. He is currently sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.
Previously, six political prisoners named “Hossein Sarlak,” “Mortaza Nazari Sedahi,” “Mohsen Aminpour,” “Reza Baziazadeh,” “Behrouz Zare,” and “Reza Mohammadhosseini” launched a hunger strike on Monday, July 15, by releasing an open letter in protest of incorrect procedures and unsuitable conditions for prisoners in all aspects, including food rations.
“Atefeh Rangriz,” a women’s and workers’ rights activist held at Qarchak Prison in Varamin, also began a hunger strike on Wednesday, October 17, in protest of the unjust handling of her case.
The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned violent treatment and widespread suppression of protesters and opponents of the regime under various pretexts, as well as the continuous and repeated violations of Iranian citizens’ rights by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
