Exclusive; IRGC Prevents Reza Mohammad Hosseini from Attending His Father's Grave

A source close to Reza Mohammad Hosseini told Voice of America that this political prisoner was denied participation in the memorial ceremony for his father's death despite requesting leave. The source informed the Persian section of Voice of America that the ceremony for the first anniversary of Reza Mohammad Hosseini's father was held on Sunday, October 7, and this political prisoner was unable to attend his father's grave, even though Mr. Mohammad Hosseini had requested to be taken to the ceremony under guard and returned to prison. However, this request was also denied. The informed source emphasized that Mr. Mohammad Hosseini's request was rejected by the authorities at Qazalhessar prison due to the opposition of the IRGC's Tharallah Intelligence. The judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic not only denied him participation in the funeral ceremony last year after his father's death but also transferred this political prisoner to solitary confinement. Reza Mohammad Hosseini has previously stated that his father suffered a heart condition due to the stress of witnessing the violence during his arrest and died shortly after from a heart attack. Recently, this political prisoner announced that he would go on a hunger strike on the anniversary of his father's 'death from grief.' Reza Mohammad Hosseini described the violence during his arrest, saying: 'Every corner of my father's house had IRGC intelligence agents who were rummaging through the belongings. They had seated my father on the couch. Several agents hit me so hard on the head and side that I involuntarily fell to my knees. One of the IRGC agents put a pistol to my bloody temple, and in that moment, I locked eyes with my father. At that moment, I didn't know it would be our last meeting.' He added: 'A blood clot had covered my vision, and I couldn't see him properly. I only heard him pleading with the agents, saying, 'Don't hit my son; have you arrested a terrorist?!' Reza Mohammad Hosseini has referred to his father's death in recent months as a 'government murder' and emphasized that his father's 'heart failure' was due to witnessing the 'brutal' arrest of his son. According to this political prisoner, the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic are also attempting to implement a 'madness project' for him. This political monarchist was last arrested after emphasizing the need for the IRGC to be recognized as a terrorist organization in front of the Tharallah headquarters. Reza Mohammad Hosseini, who has spent years in prison, is currently serving a sentence of '14 years and six months' based on a ruling from the Tehran Court of Appeals. This political prisoner, who last February, along with nine of his fellow inmates, initiated a weekly hunger strike campaign called 'Tuesdays No to Execution,' has repeatedly protested human rights violations in prison. On June 9, in an audio file obtained by the Persian section of Voice of America, he revealed that the Islamic Republic officials are attempting to 'rehabilitate' political prisoners through economic pressure. Mr. Mohammad Hosseini disclosed in this audio file that the IRGC intelligence officials prevented him from assigning a power of attorney for the inheritance of his father's only estate so that he could not cover his expenses in prison. According to this political prisoner, 'Niri, the supervisor of political prisoners, officially said the IRGC opposed your power of attorney,' and thus, through 'rehabilitation,' they are trying to prevent him from managing his expenses in prison.