Behnam Musivand's hunger strike following transfer to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj
Behnam Musivand, a civil rights activist who was previously serving time in Evin Prison, has gone on a hunger strike following his transfer to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. Behnam Musivand was transferred to the prison’s health department on Saturday, September 29, due to symptoms of COVID-19, and Evin Prison officers removed his belongings from Ward 8 of the prison on Monday morning and took them away. This action, along with Mr. Musivand’s lack of contact with his family and their lack of knowledge of his health status, had increased their concerns. It is said that upon Mr. Mosivand's arrival at Rajai Shahr Prison, he was tested for coronavirus and told that the results would be known in the coming days.
According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, Behnam Mosivand, a imprisoned civil activist who was previously serving time in Evin Prison, has been transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.
Mr. Mosivand is currently in a solitary confinement cell in the secure ward of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and has been on a hunger strike since his transfer to this ward. It is said that upon his arrival at Rajai Shahr Prison, Mr. Mosivand was tested for COVID-19 (saliva and nasal mucus) and was told that the results would be known in the coming days.
Behnam Musivand was transferred to the Evin Prison Health Department on Saturday, September 29, due to symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, severe chills, and loss of smell and taste. On Monday morning, Evin Prison officers removed his belongings from Ward 8 of the prison and took them with them. This action, along with Mr. Musivand’s lack of contact with his family and their lack of knowledge of his health status, had increased their concerns.
Earlier on August 16 of this year, Jafar Azimzadeh, a labor activist imprisoned in Evin Prison, was transferred from Evin Prison to one of the solitary cells in the secure ward of Rajai Shahr in Karaj under the pretext of being transferred to a hospital after contracting the coronavirus in Evin Prison and the prison's medical doctor diagnosed his condition as an emergency. Mr. Azimzadeh has also been on a hunger strike since his transfer to this ward. It is said that upon his arrival at Rajai Shahr Prison, he was tested for coronavirus (saliva and nasal mucus) and was told that his coronavirus test result was negative.
On Sunday, August 9, following the results of a random sample of seventeen prisoners in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, it was determined that twelve of the prisoners had been infected with the coronavirus. On August 10, 27 political prisoners in this ward, including Behnam Mosivand, staged a sit-in in the courtyard of the prison, demanding an immediate investigation into the conditions in this ward. After transferring the prisoners to the Evin Prison health department, the prison authorities took another coronavirus test (throat test) from them for more certainty, and on Tuesday, August 11, the results of the tests showed that 8 out of 12 had tested positive again.
Behnam Mosivand was sentenced in September 2019 by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, to 5 years in prison for the charge of “gathering and colluding with the intention of acting against the security of the country” and to 1 year in prison for the charge of “propaganda activity against the system.” This sentence was confirmed in its entirety by Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals on appeal. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe punishment, namely 5 years in prison, is applicable to him for the charge of “gathering and colluding with the intention of acting against the security of the country.” Mr. Mosivand was finally arrested on June 15 after appearing at the Evin Courthouse’s Sentence Execution Unit and transferred to prison to serve his sentence.
Behnam Musivand has a history of arrest and conviction.
Source: HRANA
