Jailed activist Arash Sadeghi on 22nd day of hunger strike

Committee of Human Rights Reporters - Arash Sadeghi, student activist and member of Mir Hossein Mousavi’s 2009 presidential election campaign continues his hunger strike in protest of his mistreatment by prison officials.

According to CHRR, Arash Sadeghi has been held incommunicado in Ward 290 of Evin prison is now on his 22nd day of hunger strike and in poor physical condition.

Arash Sadeghi was studying for his masters in philosophy at Allameh Tabatabai University until he was banned from his studies. He was arrested on July 9, 2009 during the time of protests following the disputed presidential elections. In November 2010, Arash’s mother lost her life after suffering a heart attack when her home was violently raided at night by security agents who were searching for her son. Arash was able to visit the gravesite of his deceased mother when he was temporarily released from prison.

Arash was first released after 50 days of being held in temporary detention while being interrogated. He was detained again on December 27, 2009 and temporarily released on bail in March 2010. On December 10, 2009 while in temporary custody, Arash Sadeghi launched a hunger strike for 17 days in Evin prison in protest of the abuse and mistreatment at the hands of prison officials. Resulting from the hunger strike he had convulsions, suffered a seizure and ended up in a coma.

Since his last arrest on January 15, 2010, Arash Sadegh has been kept in custody in Ward 209 of Evin prison, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Intelligence.

This political prisoner was handed a 6-year prison sentence and 74 lashes by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Pir Abbasi. His charges were “gathering and conspiracy against the regime” and “propaganda against the regime.” The prison sentence was later reduced to 5 years by the court of appeals.