Exclusive; Concerns Over 'Dry Hunger Strike' of Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab and Atekeh Rajabi

A human rights activist told Voice of America that with increasing concerns due to the deteriorating health of Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab on the second day of his dry hunger strike, his fellow inmates at Evin Prison are trying to dissuade this political prisoner from continuing his hunger strike. At the same time, the Teachers' Guild Council has warned about the dangers of the dry hunger strike of Atekeh Rajabi. Yashar Tabrizi, a human rights activist, said on Thursday, May 21, to Voice of America that Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab's fellow inmates pressured the Evin prison authorities to return him from the prison infirmary to the ward, attempting to convince this political prisoner to end his dry hunger strike. He also announced the news of Mr. Ahmadi Raghab's 'deteriorating condition' in a tweet, stating that Ahmadi Raghab has said he will continue his dry hunger strike 'until the end of the cycle of violence and the cessation of executions.' Yashar Tabrizi explained to Voice of America: 'According to the concerns of Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab's fellow inmates about his situation and by pressuring the Evin prison authorities, they have transferred him from the infirmary to Hall 2 of Ward 6 and are trying to break his hunger strike to save his life.' This human rights activist also emphasized the life-threatening dangers of a dry hunger strike, stating that this political prisoner is determined to continue his hunger strike 'until the cessation of executions and repression,' and Ahmadi Raghab's family is 'deeply worried' about him. Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab, after his release from prison last February, especially regarding the hunger strike program, told Voice of America that he does not suggest a hunger strike to any political prisoner unless it is 'the last arrow in the quiver.' He, who is one of the signatories of the 14th statement for the resignation of Ali Khamenei and the transition from the Islamic Republic, has previously staged hunger strikes in prison multiple times. Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab has told Voice of America that he is aware of the physical damages resulting from this protest action, but when a prisoner 'does not achieve results from his pursuits, he has no choice but to risk his life.' Meanwhile, the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Guilds of Iran has reported that Atekeh Rajabi, a teachers' union activist who was arrested on Tuesday in Mashhad, has also gone on a dry hunger strike. Atekeh Rajabi announced in a phone call that she is in solitary confinement and has gone on a dry hunger strike 'in protest against her illegal detention.' The Coordinating Council of Teachers' Guilds has warned judicial and security officials that 'the responsibility for the dangers arising from her dry hunger strike' and 'any unfortunate incident' is on them.