Civil activist Atefeh Rangriz goes on strike in prison to protest the unfair handling of her case
Atefeh Rangriz, a women's and workers' rights activist imprisoned in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, went on a hunger strike to protest the unfair process of handling her case.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Atefeh Rangriz, who was recently sentenced to eleven years and six months in prison and 74 lashes, has been on a hunger strike since Wednesday, October 14, to protest the unfair process of handling her case.
According to this report and quoting labor sources, this women's and labor rights activist has been repeatedly deprived of her rights through illegal procedures during her detention, and during this time, she has pursued all possible avenues to return her trial to a fair process.
Ms. Rangriz, who was arrested during the International Workers' Day protests in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and after a while was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin.
The hearing of this labor activist's case was held on August 4 at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, and Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, the head of this branch, sentenced Atefeh Rangriz to 11 years and six months in prison and 74 lashes on charges such as "gathering and colluding against national security" and "disturbing public order."
This labor activist previously wrote a letter from Qarchak Prison in Varamin, discussing the living conditions and conditions in the prison. He likened the wards of Qarchak Prison in Varamin to a train and the rooms in each ward to a train cabin, writing that "Qarchak is the nickname for hell."
Previously, two political prisoners, Ebrahim Khalili Hamedani and his son Salar Khalili Hamedani, who were recently sentenced to 16 years in prison each, began a hunger strike in Urmia Central Prison on Wednesday, October 25, in protest of this sentence.
Yousef Nadarkhani, an imprisoned priest and member of the Church of Iran, has also been on a hunger strike in Evin Prison since Monday, October 2, protesting the suspension of his children's education and the schools' prevention of their registration for the new academic year.
Previously, Amnesty International had issued a statement on the occasion of International Workers' Day (May 1st) calling on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to immediately release workers and civil society activists who were arrested during strikes and other peaceful protests.
The US State Department also says that the Iranian regime has arrested thousands of protesters, civil activists, and representatives of workers and other trade unions in the last two years.
Also, in May of this year, the US State Department issued a statement strongly condemning the severe repression of civil rights activists in Iran by the Islamic Republic regime and calling for an end to their harassment and imprisonment, including women who are only demanding their basic and fundamental rights.
Source: Voice of America
