Political Prisoner Motamednia Still On Hunger Strike

Persianbanoo - Political prisoner Mohamad Reza Motamednia, incarcerated in Ward 350 of Evin prison was taken to hospital last night on his 40th day of hunger strike. But the security agents did not allow his son to even have a few minutes to tell his father about Mir Hossein Mousavi’s request for Motamednia to halt his hunger strike.

According to reports by Kalameh, despite the fact that Motamednia had specified previously that he will only halt his hunger strike if requested by Mousavi, the security agents prevented his son from giving him Mousavi’s message. Motamednia continues to be on a hunger strike despite his dire health .

Motamednia’s health became dire last night and he was taken to Taleghani hospital.

Kalameh reported Wednesday that, as soon as Mousavi became aware of Motamednia’s hunger strike, he requested for him to halt his hunger strike.

According to this report, security agents accompanied Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard to visit with Zahra Rahnavard’s mother, Mrs. Navab Safavi.

During this visit, one of Mousavi’s relatives informed him of Motamednia’s hunger strike protesting incarceration of the Green Movement leaders.

On day 41 of his hunger strike, Motamednia has lost more than 66 lbs, and suffers from severe tremors and an irregular heartbeat, all causing much concern and worry for his family and friends.

This 62 year old political prisoner was special adviser to Bahonar, Rejaei and Mousavi during the Iran-Iraq war, and was responsible for providing support to the Commander in Chief during that war.

He launched a hunger strike on April 9, 2012 to protest injustices committed by the government and in particular the house arrest of Mousavi, Karroubi and Rahnavard.

Since that date, Motamednia has remained on hunger strike. During this period, he was incarcerated in solitary confinement at Ward 240 of Evin prison for 20 days.

Despite requests by many political activists, including Mousavi’s daughters, that he halt his hunger strike, Motamednia, thanking them all, said that he will remain on hunger strike until either the Green leaders are removed from house arrest or he receives a direct request from Mousavi himself to end his hunger strike.

Now one of his conditions has been realized. During a visit with his family, Mousavi was informed of Mohamednia’s condition, and asked Mohamednia to halt his hunger strike. But, not only did the prison officials and the authorities not relay Mousavi’s message to him, but they did not even allow Mohamednia’s son to convey Mousavi’s message to him in the hospital.

Source: Kalameh