Continual hardships for Majid Tavakoli in the new year

Jailed student activist Majid Tavakoli has not been allowed to visit with his family in the past year nor does he have telephone privileges.

Expelled and imprisoned Amirkabir University student activist Majid Tavakoli who has been behind bars since December 09 has been barred from phone and visitation privileges for some time.

According to RAHANA, Human Rights House of Iran, a number of prisoners who had been barred from using the phone at Rajai Shahr prison were recently allowed to contact their families to exchange New Year’s greetings. However Majid Tavakoli who is behind bars at Rajai Shahr prison was not allowed to contact his family.

Tavakoli was barred from visitation and phone privileges since January 2010 for unknown reasons. During this time he was only allowed one brief visitation with his family. This situation has continued into the new year.

During the past days a group of political and human rights activists visited Majid’s family in the city of Shiraz. Majid’s mother told Human Rights House of Iran that she will never stop her efforts in securing the release of her child and she will make sure everyone hears his roars. She added that all the Intelligence Ministry confiscated all the New Year’s Greeting cards that were sent to their family. She ended by thanking all those who have held Majid and his family in their thoughts. She said, “While my dear Majid is behind bars, seeing my many Majid’s here warms my heart.”

Majid Tavkoli was arrested in front of Amirkabir University on December 7, 2009, Student’s Day. Security agents who were waiting for him arrested him after he made a speech. Tavakoli was sentenced to 8 years in prison. The breakdown of his prison sentence is as follows: 5 years for participating in illegal gatherings, 2 years for insulting the Supreme Leader, 1 year for propaganda against the regime and six months for insulting the president. He is also barred from taking part in any political activity for 5 years and from leaving the country for 5 years.

The appeals court upheld this sentence and Majid is now serving his time behind bars.

Source: RAHANA