Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Farhad Mithaami

On October 24, Amnesty International called for the unconditional release of Farhad Mithaami, a 48-year-old civil activist and physician. Amnesty states that Mithaami is being held against his will in the prison infirmary and is under pressure to end his hunger strike. The international human rights organization emphasized that Mithaami, who was arrested on July 30 for supporting a campaign against compulsory hijab, was violently transferred from Ward 4 to Evin's infirmary a month ago and was connected to an IV against his will. An informed source told Amnesty that prison officials have told Mithaami he will remain in the infirmary until he ends his hunger strike. The request for Mithaami's release has been supported by 2,222 doctors and civil activists. Philip Luther, the director of North Africa and Middle East research at Amnesty, stated that Mithaami's only 'crime' is speaking out against the discriminatory compulsory hijab law. He is a prisoner of conscience who should never have been detained. Luther insisted that Iranian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Mithaami instead of keeping him in solitary confinement in the prison infirmary and jeopardizing his health. According to Mithaami's family, he has been on a hunger strike for nearly three months in protest against his detention and 'unjust charges.' Sediqeh Pishnamaz, Mithaami's mother, previously told Radio Farda that her son's arrest was due to possessing several badges that read 'I protest against compulsory hijab.' It is reported that Mithaami has turned his hunger strike into a 'dry' hunger strike since September 8. The charges against Mithaami include 'collusion and conspiracy against national security,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'promoting and spreading unveiled women.'