Exclusive | Two Weeks of Silence Following Hunger Strike; Concerns About the Health of Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb

A source close to Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb emphasized the growing concerns regarding this political prisoner to VOA, stating that "about two weeks" have passed since his last contact with his family, during which he was "on a hunger strike and in poor physical condition." Any contact from Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb with the outside world has been cut off since October 5, following his announcement of a hunger strike in protest against "inhumane and anti-human rights conditions" in Qazal Hessar prison. The source informed VOA on Wednesday, October 19, that since then, the family and close ones have been unaware of this political prisoner’s situation. The informed source stressed: "The family's concerns stem from the lack of information during this time when he has not called, as the last time he contacted them, he was on a hunger strike and not in good health." According to the source, "It has been two weeks without any news," and Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb is "in solitary confinement." He also referred to the confiscated belongings of the Ahmadi Raghb family, stating that judicial authorities returned part of these belongings "three years ago," and "the rest, including a firefighter's jacket, computer case, satellite receiver, flash drive, and mobile phone," were handed over to the family of this political prisoner on Tuesday. The delivery of these items without receiving any news from him in the past two weeks has heightened concerns about his status in solitary confinement while on a hunger strike. Additionally, Pouya Jageround, a civil activist and friend of this political prisoner, wrote on social media platform "X": "I am certain that something has happened to Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb, and we are worried for his life." Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb is one of the political prisoners who was transferred from Evin to Qazal Hessar without prior notice in recent weeks and had previously participated in a hunger strike collectively. Hamzeh Savari, another political prisoner transferred to Qazal Hessar, described the prison in a letter a month ago as a "horrific slaughterhouse" and warned that one should "expect a humanitarian disaster." Based on information received by the Persian section of VOA on Wednesday, October 5, Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb has gone on hunger strike again in protest against what has been described as "inhumane and anti-human rights conditions" in the "completely secure" section of Qazal Hessar prison. Another informed source had told VOA on October 5 that Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb, along with several other political prisoners, was transferred from Evin to Qazal Hessar, and after days of silence, he told his relatives during a call that he was imprisoned in "very bad conditions in a cell where even a chicken cannot be kept" and that he would continue his hunger strike "until results are achieved."