Human
Rights Watch Report:
Iran: Political Prisoners Held with
Violent Criminals
Hunger Strikers Protest Conditions
(New York, February 9, 2005) -The confinement
of political prisoners in Iran together with violent criminals endangers
their lives, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called for
the immediate release of all prisoners held for the peaceful expression of
political opinions.
Six prisoners in Rajaii Shahr prison near Karaj, a suburb of Tehran,
launched a hunger strike on January 25 to protest their confinement with
dangerous and belligerent criminals who have assaulted and intimidated
them. The six prisoners are Bina Darab-Zand, Arzhang Davoodi, Hojat
Zamani, Mehrdad Lohrasbi, Farzad Hamidi, and Jaafar Iqdami. Prior to their
hunger strike, Farzad Hamidi was assaulted inside the prison by a
well-known drug dealer who threatened his life.
Bina Darab-Zand and Farzad Hamidi were arrested last June in front of the
United Nations building in Tehran during a protest against human rights
violations in Iran. Darab-Zand was sentenced to three and half years'
imprisonment for his participation in the protest. Mehrdad Lohrasbi was
arrested during the student protests at Tehran University in 1999 and is
serving a 15-year prison term.
"Iranian authorities regularly claim they hold no prisoners for political
reasons. This has absolutely no credibility," said Joe Stork, Washington
director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East division. "These prisoners
are being held for no reason other than their expression of peaceful
political views."
Human Rights Watch is extremely concerned for the safety and health of
prisoners who are on hunger strike. After the first week of hunger strike,
the health of one of the prisoners, Mehrdad Lohrasbi, deteriorated so
considerably that other prisoners asked him to end his participation in
the hunger strike.
"We hold the Iranian government responsible for these prisoners' lives and
well-being," Stork said. "Confining them with violent criminals could
certainly endanger their lives."
Human Rights Watch said Iran has recently intensified its harsh treatment
of political activists. The judiciary is handing down lengthy prison
sentences following unfair trials of critics.
In one recent case, Heshmatallah Tabarzadi, a student leader, was
sentenced by Tehran's revolutionary court on December 26 to sixteen years
in prison for "propaganda against the regime" and acting against national
security. Human Rights Watch said that his trial was held behind closed
doors and in the absence of his lawyer. The judge's final
ruling cites "interviews with foreign radio," "writing letters to the
Leader," and "disseminating statements against the regime" as the basis
for the harsh sentence.
"None of these activities are crimes in any recognized sense," said Stork.
"Iranians should be able to speak their minds without putting their lives
at risk."
Human Rights Watch urged the Iranian government to end its harassment and
rosecution of peaceful activists, writers, and journalists.
"The Iranian government is well aware of the intense public scrutiny of
its human rights record. A minimum requirement for improving the human
rights conditions in Iran is the unconditional release of all prisoners
held solely for their political beliefs," said Stork.