Arzhang Davoodi goes on hunger strike to protest his transfer to solitary confinement and deprivation of his medication

Based on reports received by Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, Arzhang Davoodi, a political prisoner has gone on hunger strike in protest to his unjustified transfer to solitary confinement in ward 1 and deprivation of his medications.

On February 10th, Davoodi was unexpectedly summoned by Kermani and Faraji (Head and Vice-President of the Prison’s Intelligence) from ward 4 of Gohardasht prison. He was transferred to a solitary confinement cell in ward 1, which is known by the infamous name, the “doghouse.”

Since the day of his transfer, Davoodi has been deprived of his medications, which creates serious dangers for his health and life.

The primitive conditions in these solitary confinement cells are similar to those of Kahrizak detention center. Political and common prisoners held in these cells are allowed to use the sanitary services only three times a day, and can only take showers once every few days. They are completely deprived of any medication or necessary treatment, and they have no contact with the outside world. The prisoners are subject to vicious forms of torture by batons, and their food portion is minimal and inedible.

Prisoners are left with handcuffs and shackles on while in their cell for long periods of time. Constant harassment and insults are also among many other inhumane conditions imposed on the prisoners.

Mansour Osanloo, a political prisoner and the President of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, has also been kept in solitary confinement in ward 5 of Karaj’s Gohardasht prison since February 6, 2010. He is suffering from life threatening heart problems, yet there is no news on his conditions.

Pressure, harassment, and abuse are ordered by the Ministry of Intelligence interrogators, and they are executed by Ali Haj Kazem (Director of the prison), Ali Mohammadi (Vice-Director of the prison), Kermani, and Faraji. These individuals are involved in murder, torture, selling of the prisoners’ organs, forming mafia-like gangs inside prisons (for espionage as well as distribution and selling drugs), smuggling drugs into the prison, violent raids on prisoners by the guards, amongst other crimes.

It should be mentioned that political prisoner Davoodi was arrested in October 2003, and was tried by Hassan Zare Dehnavi (A.K.A Judge Haddad), and was sentenced unjustly to 15 years in prison and 70 lashes. Dehnavi never gave Davoodi or his lawyer an official sentence written. Despite that several years have passed since his arrest, the official and final sentence is still unknown, and Davoodi is awaiting trial. Davoodi has spent all these years in various prisons. He was exiled from Evin prison to Bandar Abbas prison and from there to Karaj’s Gohardasht prison.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran (HRDAI) condemn the unjustified transfer of Davoodi to torture chambers, and denounce deprivation of this defenseless political prisoner, who is serving his unjust and inhumane sentence. HRDAI asks the Human Rights High Commissioner and other human rights organizations to defend political prisoners, [and to do all they can to secure] their unconditional and immediate release.

Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran