Iranian Political Prisoners in Gohardasht on Hunger Strike, Tehran Won’t Budge

Between 12 and 22 political prisoners incarcerated in Iran’s infamous Gohardasht Prison have been protesting inhumane treatment by engaging in a hunger strike, some of them for over a month – but prison officials have not budged or indicated that they are any closer to meeting the prisoners’ demands.
Inmates were forced to leave medications and other personal belongings behind during the transfer, and are also protesting additional security cameras, listening devices, not enough beds or drinking water, and poor ventilation.
Judicial and prison officials are denying medical treatment to the prisoners, who are suffering from malnutrition and declining health.
Prisoners must endure their punishment to the fullest."
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has called on the Ministry of Justice and the State Prison Organization to provide medical treatment to the prisoners and address their demands for humane treatment.
"The Iranian judiciary’s denial of these political prisoners’ legitimate demands may cost the lives of prisoners who have no other way to attract attention to the inhumane conditions at the prison," said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of CHRI, in a statement on the organization’s website.
"They can either continue to pass the buck around to different bureaucracies inside the country or immediately address this life-threatening situation and be accountable to the prisoners under their care."
Jafar Eghdami, who has been incarcerated at Gohardasht for nine years, is one of those in miserable condition after weeks of hunger striking.
Jafar was arrested in August 2008 for participating in a peaceful political protest to commemorate the mass execution of political prisoners twenty years earlier.
"They sent my son to prison for no reason and he has been serving his time but they can’t stop harassing him," Zahra said.

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