Iranian Judiciary Sentences Longtime Imprisoned Writer Arzhang Davoudi to Death

Persian2English - Judge Asef al-Husseini in branch 1 of Karaj’s Revolutionary Court has sentenced Arzhang Davoudi, about 62 years old, to death. The sentence was delivered to his lawyer, Vahid Meshkani Farahani. Judge al-Husseini has charged Davoudi, a writer, with membership in and support of the Mujahedin Khalgh Organization (PMOI or MEK) and promotion of this group in the prison. Davoudi, who is currently detained in Bandar Abbas Prison, has been locked up behind bars for the past eleven years. Before issuing him the death sentence, the Iranian Judiciary had sentenced this writer to ten years in prison. After ten years of imprisonment, the Judiciary changed his sentence to 20 years and 8 months in prison. Throughout his imprisonment Davoudi has endured long periods in solitary confinement and other forms of torture. He has launched several hunger strikes in prison to protest against his charges and the actions of authorities. Davoudi was originally charged with Moharebeh (enmity against God).

Since his arrest in October 2003, Iranian authorities have transferred Davoudi to various detention centers, including Evin, Rajai Shahr, and Hormozgan prisons. In 2012 he was transferred from Evin to Bandar Abbas Prison after spending more than 100 consecutive days in solitary confinement.

According to a statement by Amnesty International published in 2012, Davoudi’s charges are related to his “peaceful political activism and writings.”

Since his imprisonment Iranian authorities have postponed Davoudi’s court date at least four times. The postponement or delaying of court dates is reportedly a tactic exercised by Iranian authorities to inflict additional psychological pressure on political prisoners and their families.

Persian Source HRANA