Uncertainty over release of political prisoners and continuation of hunger strike in Evin

The judiciary spokesman has spoken of the release of 50 percent of political prisoners, while most of the known political and security prisoners have not yet been released. At the same time, hunger strikes continue in protest of the non-release of political and security prisoners.

Gholamhossein Esmaili, a spokesman for the judiciary, said that along with the release of prisoners for all crimes, “more than 50 percent of security prisoners” have also been sent on leave. At the same time, human rights organizations announced that among these people, there are no known political prisoners or well-known figures, and they are still in prison.

On Tuesday, March 17, in a press conference held without the presence of reporters and via video conference, the Judiciary Spokesperson described the use of leave for all prisoners as being in accordance with the "circulation of the Head of the Judiciary, the judiciary's correct understanding of the current situation, and the annual plan for Nowruz," and said that so far 85,000 prisoners have benefited from this leave.

According to media reports in Iran, and quoting Esmaili, prisoners' leave has been implemented in all provinces, and in the meantime, "more than 50 percent of political convicts and security prisoners" have also gone on leave.

The Judiciary Spokesperson did not provide an explanation for the timing of the temporary release or leave of the remaining political and ideological prisoners.

Reuters news agency wrote in a report quoting "activists and human rights groups" that "Iran has released at least dozens of political prisoners in recent days, but prominent political prisoners are still in prison."

With the spread of the coronavirus in Iran and reports of the virus being transmitted to the country's prisons, many families of political and ideological prisoners have repeatedly called on judicial authorities to temporarily release and discharge these prisoners to prevent them from contracting the coronavirus.

According to the Ministry of Health statistics as of noon on Tuesday, March 17, the official number of coronavirus victims in Iran has reached 988 as of the time of this report. From noon on Monday to noon today (Tuesday, March 17), 1,178 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Iran, bringing the total number of people infected with the disease in the country to 16,169.

Last week, Javed Rehman, the UN human rights rapporteur on Iran, also called on the Islamic Republic's officials not to discriminate in the process of granting temporary leave and release of prisoners.

Hunger strike in Evin Prison

Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer and human rights activist, went on a hunger strike yesterday, March 16, in a statement issued to protest the authorities' refusal to release political prisoners.

Ms. Sotoudeh said she is concerned that as the imprisonment of political prisoners continues and the coronavirus “deepens and spreads,” “the storm of this deadly virus could wipe out political prisoners or their families.”

Rezvaneh Ahmad Khanbeigi, a civil activist imprisoned in the women's ward of Evin Prison, also went on a hunger strike yesterday to protest the authorities' refusal to grant her leave.

Protesting political prisoners in various halls of Ward 4 of Evin Prison have also refused to receive "government food rations" since Sunday, March 15.

The prisoners cited the relevant authorities' opposition to granting leave to political prisoners after the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country as the reason for their protest, and said they would continue their protest "until bail is set and they are sent on leave."

Transfer of 52 political prisoners in Evin

Simultaneously with the Judiciary Spokesperson's meeting in Tehran and the announcement of granting leave to "more than 50 percent of political prisoners," HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists' Association in Iran, reported that "over the past month, 52 political and security prisoners in Evin Prison have been transferred from Ward 7, Hall 12, to Ward 4, Hall 1 of the prison."

According to HRANA, the transfer of these prisoners to Hall 1 of Andorzgah 4 was carried out in violation of the principle of separation of crimes, and "political and security prisoners are currently sitting alongside prisoners with dowry debts."

The charges against these political prisoners include "communication with hostile states" and "espionage."

The HRANA news agency has published a list of the names of 52 political and security prisoners transferred from Evin Prison and noted that it has received reports indicating that drug addiction exists in the new ward for political and security prisoners.

Source: DW