Kurdish Political Prisoner, Ramezan Ahmad Kamal, on Hunger Strike
Ramezan Ahmad Kamal, a Kurdish political prisoner and a Syrian citizen arrested over three years ago in Iran by Ministry of Intelligence agents and accused of being a member of the PKK (the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, an armed militia group), is on a hunger strike that was launched 22 days ago. According to reports, Ahmad Kamal is protesting the violation of his fundamental human rights.
Health officials at Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj informed Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran Prosecutor, that Ramezan Ahmad Kamal’s illness was untreatable in prison. They suggested that Ahmad Kamal be transferred to a hospital for surgery but the political prisoner was sent to the Evin prison infirmary instead. He was later transferred to Ghazvin prison. Two months have passed since Ahmad Kamal’s transfer to Ghazvin prison but he has not yet received the medical attention he desperately requires.
Ahmad Kamal was severely injured at the time of his arrest and, while subjected to torture, confessed to the charges against him. He was consequently issued a 10-year prison sentence.
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Mohammad Sedigh Kaboudvand Transferred from Prison to the Hospital
Mohammad Sedigh Kaboudvand, journalist, human rights activist, and founder of the first human rights organization in the Kurdistan province, was transferred from Evin prison to Modares hospital after experiencing severe pain in his kidneys. Kaboudvand had launched a hunger strike on May 26 to protest to refusal by Iranian authorities to grant him prison furlough to see his ailing son. Despite Kaboudvand’s condition, the Iranian authorities have refused to grant the visit with his son. Kaboudvand was forced to end his hunger strike after 60 days because he contracted a severe kidney infection, experienced a severe reduction in his blood sugar level, physical weakness, and motion and weight loss. Since his imprisonment, Kaboudvand has also suffered two heart attacks.
Mohammad Sedigh Kaboudvand was arrested in 2007 and transferred to Evin prison. In 2008, the Iranian Judiciary sentenced him to a total of 11 years in prison.
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Lawyer for Reza Khandan and Daughter Mehraveh Restricted from Entering the Evin Prison Prosecutions Office
On July 21, Nasim Ghanavi, the lawyer for Reza Khandan and his daughter Mehraveh, went to Evin prison with the intention to file an objection [against her clients’ judicial summons and travel bans] and present her power of attorney papers but she was refused entry. According to Ghanavi, all individuals accused of a crime have the right to an attorney. Iranian law states that Ghanavi has 20 days to present her objection in written format to the appropriate judicial branch. While judicial officials do not allow lawyers to be present during the investigation process, lawyers have always been allowed to register their power of attorney and objections within the appropriate judicial branch.
It is important to note that the summons issued for Reza Khandan and his daughter Mehraveh are not just enforcing regular travel bans but rather the Judiciary has opened case files for them. The travel ban is a temporary action the Judiciary has taken against him and his daughter until a decision is reached on the supposed crimes and subsequent charges.
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Labour Activist, Pedram Nasrollahi, Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
On July 16, the public and revolutionary courts in Sanandaj charged Pedram Nasrollahi, labour activist and member of the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organizations, with “Propaganda against the regime through cooperation with an opposition group” and “Membership in the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organizations”. Nasrollahi was issued one year imprisonment for the propaganda charge even though he had strongly objected against the unwarranted accusation in court and during the interrogation process. He was also issued two years in prison for his membership in the labour group. Nasrollahi has 20 days to object his sentencing before his case file is sent to the Appeals Court for further review.
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Habib Halafi, an Arab Political Activist, Arrested in Ahwaz
Habib Halafi, an Arab political activist, was arrested at his home in Hamidiyeh, Ahwaz and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center. Halafi, who was previously arrested and endured two years in prison, had been released since 2011. Additionally, Halafi’s brother Ali is held in Gonbad prison (in the Razavi Khorasan province) serving a 30-year exile sentence.
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Leftist Student Activist Ali Ajami Expelled from the University of Tehran
Ali Ajami, a leftist student activist who ranked in 18th place among his peers upon entrance to the University of Tehran in 2005, was expelled. Ajami was majoring in law and needed only 15 more credits before completing his degree. Ali Ajami was arrested in summer 2009 during his last term in school. Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided by Judge Salavati sentenced Ajami to four years in prison and charged him with “Propaganda against the regime” and “Conspiring against the regime”. His sentence was reduced to two years in prison by the Tehran Appeals Court. He spent his detention in Rajai Shahr prison and was released in February 2012.
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Prison Sentence Carried Out for Sara Mahboubi, Banned University Student
Sara Mahboubi, a Baha’i university student banned from her education, introduced herself to Sari prison on July 18 to serve her 10-month imprisonment sentence issued to her by a court in Sari and upheld by the Appeals Court. Mahboubi had been arrested twice before as well. Her first arrest occured on June 24, 2010 after she turned herself in to the office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Sari. AFfter 24 days of imprisonment, she was released on bail from the Sari Ministry of Intelligence detention center on July 18, 2010. She was arrested for the second time on July 11, 2011 and released 17 days later on bail.
Her brother Vesal Mahboubi was imprisoned for some time last year but has been released since then.
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Roozbeh Khanpayeh, Political and Cultural Activist, Issued Prison Sentence
Roozbeh Khanpayeh, a political prisoner during the 1980′s and a political and cultural activist from the city of Yasuj (in the province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, southwestern Iran), was issued a sentence of four and a half years in prison and 8 months suspended imprisonment by the Yasuj Revolutionary Court. According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, he was charged with: “Propaganda against the regime”, “Having contacts with groups in opposition to the regime”, and “Participation in illegal protest gatherings”.
Khanpayeh, 48, was first arrested in 1984 and charged with “Having contacts with groups in opposition to the regime”. He endured 15 months in prison. He was arrested for the second time in 1987 during a gathering in Yasuj to protest the rising price of gasoline. He was charged with “Propaganda and collusion against the regime” and “Participation in an illegal protest gathering”. He endured three months in prison before he was released on bail.
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Mojgan Mohammadian, Civil Activist, Has Been Imprisoned Since May 2012
Mogan Mohammadian, a civil activist, has been held in Evin prison since May 2012. She is sentenced to six months in prison. Mohammadian was taken to the women’s security ward in Evin prison after the Iranian authorities summoned her by phone on May 23.
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Hanieh (a.k.a. Sharareh) Farshi Prevented from Receiving Medical Treatment
Iranian authorities have prevented Hanieh Farshi, a political prisoner in the women’s ward of Evin prison who is suffering from severe pain in her kidneys and bladder, from receiving medical treatment. Evin prison doctors have prevented Farshi from receiving any sort of medication or treatment for her health even though traces of blood were found in her urine.
According to the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Farshi requires a medical examination and CT scan but her interrogators have prevented her transfer to the hospital.
Hanieh Farshi was arrested in the city of Tabriz in July 2010. According to reliable sources, she was arrested for her online activities. Judge Moghiseh in branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to seven years in prison on the charges of “Blasphemy” and “Insulting the Supreme Leader”.
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Peyman Aref Summoned to Criminal Court
Peyman Aref, journalist and student activist who was recently released from prison, has been summoned to branch 1172 of the Tehran Criminal court. Aref received a notice on July 17 to appear at the court by 9:30 am on August 5 for the purpose of being tried on new unfounded charges.
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Hossein Ronaghi Maleki’s Prison Leave Extended
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, human rights activist and blogger who was released from prison on July 11 on an approximately million USD bail, will have his prison leave extended until August 1.
Ronaghi Maleki developed a severe kidney disease during his time in solitary confinement. He has lost the function in one kidney and risks to lose his second kidney. He is sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Source: Persian2English