Two political prisoners in Iran go on hunger strike
Zartasht Ahmadi Ragheb and Shakila Monfared, two political prisoners imprisoned in Greater Tehran and Qarchak prisons in Varamin, have gone on a hunger strike to protest the prison conditions and the violation of their rights.
On the twelfth day of his hunger strike, imprisoned civil activist Zartosht Ahmadi Ragheb announced in a phone message that he had first been transferred to solitary confinement in the quarantine section of Evin Prison and then to Greater Tehran Prison, ward four, known as the "villains and criminals ward."
His transfer to solitary confinement came after the political prisoner sent a message outside the prison. In his latest phone message, Zartasht Ahmadi Ragheb says, "There are 52 solitary confinement cells behind Ward 8 of Evin Prison."
Mr. Ahmadi Ragheb says that when he protested about his condition in solitary confinement in Evin quarantine, he was tortured and then tricked into leaving Evin Prison and being transferred to Ward 4 for violent crime prisoners in Greater Tehran Prison.
This fired civil activist and firefighter says that his physical condition is not good and that he has reached the "borderline of unconsciousness."
It has been reported that Zaratasht Ahmadi Ragheb, who was arrested on Monday, March 2, was infected with the coronavirus at the time of his arrest.
Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, has also gone on a hunger strike.
An informed source told the "Campaign to Support Political Prisoners and Abolish the Execution" that Shakila Manfared went on a hunger strike after some "ordinary" prisoners threatened her with "can lids and knives" and attacked her.
Shakila Monfared, who has been serving her sentence since February 1, 2020, was previously sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to six years in prison and four months of forced labor in the Agricultural Jihad on charges of “propaganda against the regime and insulting the sanctities of Islam.” This sentence was reduced to four years and two months on appeal.
In February 2011, while in prison, Ms. Monfared was sentenced in another case by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to two years and eight months in prison and a fine of 10 million tomans on charges of "spreading lies" and "membership in groups opposed to the regime."
Source: Voice of America
