Hunger-striking political prisoners in Iran maltreated – report

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 04 – A political prisoner who has launched a one-week-long hunger strike in solidarity for jailed journalist Akbar Ganji has been refused visitation rights for a week, a rights group in defence of political prisoners said on Thursday. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Aug. 04 – A political prisoner who has launched a one-week-long hunger strike in solidarity for jailed journalist Akbar Ganji has been refused visitation rights for a week, a rights group in defence of political prisoners said on Thursday.

Bina Darabzand, currently in Rajai-Shahr Prison, announced that he would go on hunger strike for a week to support Ganji who is presently in a critical situation at hospital on day 54 of a hunger strike in protest to his detention.

The group also warned of the failing health of another political prisoner, Manouchehr Mohammadi, currently on day 24 of a hunger strike in the notorious Evin Prison. He has refused to take sugar cubes since Saturday.

The Student Committee in Defence of Political Prisoners said prison officials have suspended Darabzand from meeting in prison with his relatives for a period of the seven days.

Darabzand, 46, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for “demonstrating illegally” outside the United Nations building in Tehran in August 2004. He had taken part in an anti-government protest by relatives of political prisoners.

Since his transfer to Rajai-Shahr Prison, he has only been allowed to see his relatives for a total of 15 minutes.

Manouchehr Mohammadi’s relatives protested outside Evin Prison on Thursday morning, demanding his release.