Deteriorating Health of Two Political Prisoners After Eight Days of Hunger Strike in Lakan Prison, Rasht

The physical condition and health of Hafez Forouhi and Manouchehr Fallah, two political prisoners, is reported to be 'critical' on the eighth day of their hunger strike in Lakan Prison, Rasht. Informed sources told Radio Farda on Tuesday, August 8, that these two political prisoners, who have been on hunger strike since August 1, were transferred to the prison infirmary yesterday due to 'low blood sugar' and 'weakness.' Consequently, these two prisoners have lost consciousness and are constantly asleep due to the effects of the hunger strike. Nevertheless, due to 'pressure from the Ministry of Intelligence,' prison officials are refusing to accept the demands of these two political prisoners. Manouchehr Fallah and Hafez Forouhi, who were arrested during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, began their hunger strike on August 1 in protest against the lack of attention to their situation. They stated in a statement that they are 'prisoners of lawlessness and injustice,' and despite the fact that the hunger strike is 'another blow to their health,' they have no other way to make their voices heard. Informed sources have told Radio Farda that considering the time spent in temporary and solitary detention, Manouchehr Fallah's sentence has now ended. However, Mr. Fallah 'remains in prison and is still detained, and now another case has been opened against him in prison, the court date and trial of which are not yet known.' Mr. Fallah, who was arrested in July of last year, was sentenced to twenty-two months of imprisonment in December of that year on charges of 'insulting the leader' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Hafez Forouhi, despite 'the end of his sentence, two years since his arrest, and numerous promises from prison officials, is still deprived of leave.' The Revolutionary Court of Rasht had previously sentenced Mr. Forouhi, who has been detained since January 2022, to one year in prison on charges of 'acting against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime.'