500-Day Uncertainty for Three Detainees of Nationwide Protests in Lakan Prison, Rasht

Three detainees from Gilan have been in a state of uncertainty in Lakan Prison, Rasht, for about 500 days despite their arrest. According to HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, while the Rasht Criminal Court tried Hafez Forouhi, Arman Sadeghi Sabat, and Mehdi Mirzaei in Bahman 1402 (January-February 2024), no verdict has been issued for them yet. The human rights and environmental media outlet 'Hirkani' previously reported on the lack of access to a chosen lawyer for these three defendants and the efforts of the Rasht Intelligence Corps to impose heavy sentences on them. Hafez Forouhi and Arman Sadeghi Sabat are both 29 years old, while Mehdi Mirzaei is 32. These three were arrested in Dey 1401 (December 2022) and have been charged with 'membership in opposition groups.' Hafez Forouhi went on a hunger strike in Mehr 1401 (September-October 2022) in protest against the continued detention and uncertainty. HRANA reported in Ordibehesht 1403 (April-May 2024) on 70 cases of prisoners in a state of uncertainty as part of a monthly report on human rights violations by the Islamic Republic. The U.S. Department of State also emphasized the worsening human rights situation in Iran in its annual report on the international human rights situation for the year 2023, released on the third of Ordibehesht. Other reports include the stroke of Reza Salmandzadeh in prison, with sources indicating that officials are withholding information from his family, and the hunger strike of Sakineh Parvaneh in Evin Prison. Additionally, there have been reports of one execution every five hours and the ongoing hunger strike and medication deprivation of Narges Mansouri in Evin, with Narges Mohammadi expressing concern.