ICHRI: On the third anniversary of the 2009 Iranian presidential election, today 50 prisoners of conscience refused to go to Evin Prison's visitation hall in order to protest the treatment of prisoners at Evin. A source close to families of prisoners told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that consequently, six prisoners by the names of Javad Alikhani, Bahman Ahmadi Amouee, Saeed Matinpour, Arash Saghar, Farshad Ghorbanpour, and Saeed Jalalifar were transferred to Intelligence Ministry's Ward 209 at Evin Prison. The sources told the Campaign that they are concerned about the way the intelligence forces may treat or confront these prisoners.
Families of prisoners believe that transfer of these six political prisoners from General Ward 350 to Intelligence Ministry's Ward 209 is illegal, as the six prisoners are currently serving their finalized prison terms. According to the said sources, a group of political prisoners inside Ward 350 has been on a political fast over the past three days in order to protest lack of investigation into the death of Hoda Saber, a political prisoner who died in prison on 10 June 2011 in the absence of medical attention. The source close to families of political prisoners told the Campaign that the political fasting among the prisoners may continue to commemorate the anniversary of Hoda Saber's passing and also the anniversary of post-election public protests, known as "the Green Movement."
The source told the Campaign that the six prisoners were transferred to Ward 209 because security authorities thought them influential in holding a ceremony inside Ward 350's yard, in which political prisoners gave speeches and sang songs. According to sources, Police Special Forces stormed the ceremony with suppression gear such as sticks, ended the ceremony, and transferred the six inmates to solitary confinement.
Wife of Abolfazl Ghadyani, a 66-year-old prisoner who has written several critical letters from prison to Iran's Supreme Leader, confirmed the news and told the Campaign that she was unable to visit with her husband today. "The atmosphere was very tense, because many families had come to visit their children from other towns, but were unable to visit with them. The prisoners decided to object to the lack of observation of their basic rights in prison, and refused to come to visitation on 11 June. Over the past two years, they have repeatedly asked for their basic rights to in-person visits, telephone calls, medical furlough, and medical attention, but none of these have happened. Therefore, on the anniversary of the election and its aftermath they did this," Marzieh Rahimi told the Campaign.
According to Marzieh Rahimi, prisoners who refused to visit with their families on 11 June included Abolfazl Ghadyani, Mohsen Mirdamadi, Feyzollah Arabsorkhi, Bahman Ahmadi Amouee, Javad Alikhani, Emad Bahavar, and Seyed Alireza Beheshti.
Last week, families of 46 political prisoners at Ward 350 wrote a letter to Tehran Prosecutor, criticizing the lawlessness and deprivation of prisoners of their basic rights. "We do not wish for our loved ones privileges beyond the rights other prisoners enjoy, rights that were observed even in this prison prior to your oversight of post-election political prisoners inside Ward 350. Are these too much to ask in a country that claims to implement Islamic justice?" said the letter.
Bahman Ahmadi Amouee, one of the prisoners transferred to Ward 209, is a journalist and former editor of economy desk of several reformist newspapers. He was arrested on 20 June 2009 at his home. He was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison on charges of writing articles that were critical of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic performance. Over the past three years, he has only been allowed furlough once in March 2010. He has been deprived of in-person visitation for the past year. Tehran Prosecutor has even refused to allow his transfer to the prison dentist for treatment of his teeth.
Ward 350 of Evin Prison is considered a General Ward for political prisoners. This ward operates under the oversight of Iran's Prisons Organization. Ward 209 of Evin Prison, however, illegally operates under the oversight of Iran's Intelligence Ministry. Most of the cells inside this ward are solitary cells and because the Prisons Organizations and no other inspectors or outside organizations are allowed to visit or access this ward, intelligence officers inside this ward are able to mistreat political prisoners. Most reports pertaining to mistreatment and physical and psychological abuse of prisoners of conscience are from this ward. In Ward 209 of Evin Prison, access to books and newspapers is not allowed, whereas in Ward 350 or other general wards within Evin Prison, prisoners are allowed such access. Ward 2-A of the IRGC, also inside Evin Prison, has similar conditions to Ward 209.
Abolfazl Ghadyani is a 66-year-old prisoner who was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "propagating against the state," and "acting against national security." He is currently serving his prison term and has sent several critical letters to Iran's Supreme Leader during his detention.
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درود بر تمام ایرانیان مبارز
BavafaTue Jun 12, 2012 09:37 AM PDT
Iranians of all walks of life taking a stand for their freedom and just rights. They are to be commanded and supported by all freedom loving folks.
Iranians need to stand united in their support for these brave souls, support their goals and aspiration for a free independent and prospers Iran.
Foreign nations which thru their apartheid policy practice the same insanity and unjust detentions cannot be a good example for the future of Iran and need not to apply.
'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory
Mehrdad
Islamist Rapists
by Fred on Tue Jun 12, 2012 08:47 AM PDTIslamist Rapists, their lobbies and gofers encourage verbal only condemnation of the Islamist Rapists’ barbarism. It is not enough, 34 years of innate reform-proof messianic Islamist Rapist savagery has left no other option except regime change.
That is why Islamist Rapists and their cyber Basijies denigrate any talk of regime change and prefer canned reaction of supporting people with empty words.
Airtight sanctions plus air/naval inspections is a must.
Add these 6 soon to be murdered to thousands of other Iranians murdered by the messianic Islamist Rapists, "reformers" and all.