Over 100 political prisoners on hunger strike in Iran

Last Tuesday, the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners reported that 59 political prisoners in Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ prison (Karaj) launched a hunger strike in protest to the suppression of the Iranian people’s righteous resistance and against the limitations imposed inside the prison.

According to HRANA, yesterday morning, 70 political prisoners in Orumiyeh prison (Northwestern Iran) also launched a mass hunger strike. Most of the prisoners are from the Kurdish and Azeri Turk ethnic minorities. The hunger strike is in protest to, a ban on prison visits, the lack of access to phone contacts, and the restriction on contacts with other prisoners.

Prison officials along with the prison director have negotiated with the prisoners, with the goal of convincing them to end their strike. The prisoners, however, rejected an end to their strike. They have stated that there is only room for negotiation if the director general of prisons in the Western Azerbaijan province visits ward 12 of Orumiyeh prison.

In the wake of the secret execution of Hossein Khezri (Kurdish political activist) in Orumiyeh prison, severe restrictions have been imposed on ward 12. Some of the prisoners have been repeatedly transferred to the Intelligence bureau or to solitary confinement cells where they are interrogated and tortured.

Translation Siavosh Jalili, Persian2English