Amnesty International Calls Conditions in Rajaei Shahr Prison 'Shameful'

Amnesty International reports that over ten political and ideological prisoners in Rajaei Shahr Prison have gone on hunger strike in protest of their treatment and the conditions of their detention, which have been described as 'inhumane.' According to a report from August 31, political prisoners have been transferred to a newly opened wing in Rajaei Shahr Prison, where they are kept in cells described as 'suffocating.' The organization has also criticized the limited access of prisoners to drinking water, food quality, and bedding. Amnesty International states that visits from family members and phone calls, which are typically available in other sections of the prison, have been restricted. Magda Maghreb, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, stated, 'The fact that prison conditions have deteriorated to the point where desperate prisoners are forced to hunger strike for the most basic standards is shameful and highlights the reforms needed in Iran's oppressive prison system.' Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities to provide food, drinking water, medicine, and healthcare to all prisoners in Rajaei Shahr Prison as soon as possible. Reports released last weekend indicated that 15 political and ideological prisoners were on hunger strike in Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj. These protests have been prompted by violations of basic rights such as 'denial of daily outdoor exercise,' 'poor ventilation,' 'presence of surveillance cameras,' and 'incomplete delivery of personal belongings,' and have continued for the past three weeks. These issues have also been emphasized in Amnesty International's report. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran quoted a family member of one of the prisoners, stating that despite the transfer of prisoners to new wings, their clothes, personal belongings, medications, and televisions, refrigerators, and water purification devices purchased by the prisoners have not been returned to them. Two days ago, several former prisoners of Rajaei Shahr sent a letter to the heads of the three branches of government in Iran, demanding an end to what they described as 'repeated violations of existing laws and pressure on political and ideological prisoners.' Amnesty International reports that in recent days, several of these prisoners, including Adel Naeimi, Peyman Koushkbaghi, and Farhad Fahendaj, Baha'i believers, Hamid Babaei, a student, Saeed Pourheidar, a journalist, and Jafar Aghdam, a human rights activist, have been transferred to the prison clinic. According to the organization, prison doctors have requested treatment for some outside the prison, but the prison warden has opposed this. Judicial officials have yet to respond to this letter and to Amnesty International's protests. Political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Iran have repeatedly gone on hunger strikes in recent years in protest against issued sentences, detention conditions, and treatment.