Arsham Rezaei's hunger strike and medication in Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj
HRANA News Agency – On Monday, February 8, Arsham (Mahmoud) Rezaei, a civil activist imprisoned in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, went on a hunger strike and medication strike to protest the lack of medical care and his opposition to being sent on medical leave. Mr. Rezaei suffers from hiatal hernia, Helicobacter pylori (stomach infection), and duodenal ulcer and needs medical care.
According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Monday, February 8, 2021, Arsham (Mahmoud) Rezaei went on a hunger strike and went on a drug-free diet in Rajai Shahr Prison, Karaj.
He was sent to Rajaei Hospital in Karaj for an endoscopy on Wednesday, February 13, and the doctor announced that Mr. Rezaei was suffering from hiatal hernia, Helicobacter pylori, and duodenal ulcer. Mr. Rezaei's strike was in protest of the lack of proper medical care and his opposition to being sent on leave.
Despite suffering from stomach upset and difficulty eating, Mr. Rezaei has been denied proper medical attention. The political prisoner also suffered a fractured left knee due to being beaten with a taser during his arrest.
Previously, an informed source had said that despite the prison doctor's order to send him to the hospital and undergo an MRI test, he was prevented from being sent.
Arsham Rezaei was arrested by the IRGC's intelligence forces in Tehran on January 7, 2018, and was temporarily released from Evin Prison on November 12, 2019, after posting bail of 200 million Tomans, pending the completion of the trial.
The court hearing on the charges against this civil activist was held on March 28, 2018, in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, without the presence of a lawyer and without prior notice. Mr. was sentenced to a total of 8 years and 6 months in prison on charges of propaganda against the system, gathering and collusion with the intention of acting against national security, and insulting the leadership. This sentence was ultimately confirmed by Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Seyyed Ahmad Zargar Aina. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, he is eligible for the most severe punishment, namely 5 years in prison, on the charge of “gathering and collusion with the intention of acting against national security.”
Arsham Rezaei was arrested on November 17 last year to serve his 5-year sentence and transferred to a solitary cell in Rajai Shahr Prison, known as the Suite. He was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to an unknown location again on November 19, and after 3 days, he was transferred to a solitary cell in the secure section of the prison. He was finally transferred to the political ward of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj on December 19, 2019. Before being transferred to prison, this civil activist was informed of the charges in Branch 2 of the Evin Prosecutor's Office, headed by Judge Haji Moradi, and a bail of 500 million Tomans was issued to him.
The court hearing of Mr. Rezaei’s charges regarding his new case was held on February 1 of this year in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari. In this hearing, he was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment and 4 months of forced labor in the Agricultural Jihad Organization on charges of “propaganda activity against the system and society and collusion to commit a crime against the country’s internal and external security.” He was ultimately sentenced by the Court of Appeal as the second defendant in this case, which was opened jointly with two other prisoners named Mohammad Abolhasani and Shakila Monfared, to 11 months of imprisonment and 4 months of forced labor in the Agricultural Jihad Organization. By applying Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment of this amount, namely 11 months of imprisonment, can be applied to him.
Source: HRANA
