Majid Dori Transferred to Karoon Prison Without Warning

Committee of Human Rights Reporters � Majid Dori jailed Alameh Tabatabai University student barred from continuing his education has been transferred to Karoon prison in Ahvaz.

According to CHRR, student sources said this transfer took place without the knowledge of judicial authorities. When the family of Majid Dori visited the prosecutor�s office to follow-up on the reason for the move from Behbahan prison, after waiting for hours to get a response, they were told that judicial authorities had no knowledge of the transfer. The judicial authorities said that the Ministry of Intelligence did not want Majid Dori to be held in Behbahan prison and the transfer was referred to as a �punishment� for this student that was put in effect on the last year of his incarceration.

In the past days, political prisoner and journalist Abolfazl Abedini was also transferred to Karoon prison in Ahvaz, from Tehran�s Evin prison. Majid Dori�s transfer took place while in the past days, a group of political and civil activists wrote a letter declaring the conditions at Karoon prison to be �wretched and inhumane.�

Majid Dori founded the Right to Education Committee along with several other expelled students who became known as star students � those who were deprived of continuing their education. The student activist and member of the Council to Defend the Right to Education was arrested on July 9, 2009 in Qazvin during the 10th anniversary of the student dormitory attacks. He was originally sentenced to 11 years in prison for his student activism, which was later reduced to 5 years by the appellate court. Per the sentence handed down by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Pir Abassi, Majid Dori was to serve his prison term behind bars in exile in Izeh but since there was no prison facility there, he was instead held in Behbahan prison in Khuzestan province.

Dori�s health has deteriorated in prison as he suffers from severe migraines, and hemophilia, resulting in fainting spells. On Monday July 27th, Dori was without explanation or knowledge of the judicial authorities suddenly transferred to Karoon prison in Ahvaz. Majid Dori has not had any contact with friends or family since this transfer took place.

According to human rights organizations the phones at Karoon prison have been shut off since July 21st � prisoners who were allowed a 3-minute phone call every other day are now deprived of their right to phone calls.