Closure of Ward 350 of Evin Prison and Transfer of Prisoners Due to the Release of Two Photos

According to reports, after images of Arash Sadeghi with Soheil Arabi and Ismail Abdi were released from the yard of Ward 350 of Evin Prison, this ward was closed and its prisoners were transferred to other wards. Additionally, Arash Sadeghi has been exiled to Rajai Shahr Prison. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported, citing an 'informed source', that Arash Sadeghi, a civil rights activist, was exiled on October 18, due to the release of images of him in Evin Prison. In these images, Arash Sadeghi, Soheil Arabi, and Ismail Abdi are present in the yard of Ward 350 of Evin Prison. According to this report, Soheil Arabi was also transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Meanwhile, the Zeyton website announced that Ward 350 of Evin Prison was closed after the release of these photos, and the prisoners of this ward were transferred to quarantine in Hall 4 of Evin Prison. The Zeyton website writes that following the release of this photo, 'the prison guard attacked this ward and after confiscating mobile phones, Soheil Arabi was transferred to Ward 8 and Arash Sadeghi was exiled to Rajai Shahr Prison.' At the same time, Mohammad Seifzadeh, a lawyer, in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, called the exile of Arash Sadeghi to Rajai Shahr Prison 'illegal' and stated that 'the exile sentence is a form of increased punishment, and the prison cannot change a prisoner's punishment after the final ruling.' According to Mr. Seifzadeh, under Iranian law, a prisoner must serve their sentence in the city of their residence unless the final ruling includes exile as an increased punishment. In recent years, dozens of political prisoners from Ward 350 of Evin Prison, including Bahman Ahmadi Amoui, Masoud Bastani, Ahmad Zeidabadi, Keyvan Samimi Behbahani, and Majid Tavakoli have been exiled to Rajai Shahr Prison. In August, 15 political and ideological prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison went on hunger strike in protest against the violation of basic rights such as 'denial of daily outdoor exercise', 'poor ventilation', 'presence of surveillance cameras', and 'incomplete return of personal belongings'. Meanwhile, several political prisoners in Rajai Shahr issued a statement published on October 9 on the Boroumand Foundation's website, announcing that they are deprived of facilities such as phone access, leave, medical and pharmaceutical facilities, and other prison amenities. These prisoners stated that after about two months, their belongings have still not been returned and 'complaints have not been heard.' Arash Sadeghi, who has been exiled to Rajai Shahr Prison, had previously gone on a hunger strike for over 70 days last year in protest against the detention of his wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi, which he ended after she was granted leave. Ms. Ebrahimi was returned to prison in early February. Soheil Arabi was sentenced to death for 'blasphemy and insulting sacred values' after his arrest in 2013, and this sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in December of that year. However, ultimately, the 34th branch of the Supreme Court in Iran overturned Soheil Arabi's death sentence in July 2015 and sent the case back for reconsideration to another court. This court removed the charge of 'blasphemy' and sentenced Mr. Arabi to seven and a half years in prison and a two-year travel ban after his release. In this context, 'the harsh treatment of the prosecutor's office' towards the families of the striking prisoners has been noted. Amnesty International has called for the 'immediate and unconditional' release of Soheil Arabi, continuing criticism of the conditions of prisoners in Rajai Shahr and the death sentence of Mohammad Ali Taheri. The hunger strike of prisoners in Rajai Shahr has been marked by 'preventing the provision of medical care'. Amnesty International has expressed serious concern about the health status of Arash Sadeghi and criticized the re-arrest of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei. Arash Sadeghi's medical leave has been conditioned on his wife's return to prison.