Families of Political Prisoners to Rouhani: Save the Lives of Sadighi and Shariati

A group of families of political prisoners in Iran has written a letter to President Hassan Rouhani, urging him to intervene and make efforts to save the lives of Ali Shariati and Arash Sadighi from death, two political prisoners who have been on hunger strike for weeks. According to reports, Arash Sadighi has been on hunger strike for over 60 days and, as one of his relatives told Radio Farda, is on the verge of death and refuses to break his strike until his wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi, is freed. Sadighi has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by Judge Salavati in the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges such as 'collusion against the regime, insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic, propaganda against the regime, and forming an illegal group.' His wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraei, was also sentenced to six years in prison for writing an unpublished story about stoning in Iran, accused of 'insulting the sacred' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Arash Sadighi's mother suffered a heart attack during a raid by security forces on their home to arrest her son in 2010 and died after several days in the hospital. Ali Shariati, who is from the reformist camp, has been on hunger strike since November 1, and his condition has been reported as critical. Shariati was sentenced to five years in prison after participating in a protest against 'acid attacks on women'; he has gone on hunger strike in protest of this sentence. In response to the situation of these two political prisoners, families of several prisoners have reminded Rouhani in their letter that they had hoped his election as president in 2013 would end the 'injustices' they faced, but apparently those who were 'more agitated' by the election results have decided to exert more pressure on the president, even through harsher treatment of prisoners. The authors of this letter, stating that Iranian courts 'continue to issue unjust verdicts,' have a 'specific' request for Rouhani: 'a brief review of the situation of two political prisoners' who are 'on hunger strike and on the verge of death.' These families emphasized that this is the first time they have made such a request to Rouhani and have asked him to intervene in any way possible to save Ali Shariati and Arash Sadighi from 'certain death.' In this context, the condition of Ali Shariati in Evin prison is reported to be 'critical.' 1850 people have signed a statement calling for the end of Arash Sadighi's hunger strike. Reports from Reporters Without Borders indicate the 'critical physical condition' of some political prisoners following hunger strikes. Seventeen political, civil, and trade activists have criticized the violation of Iran's constitution. Shirzad has decided to continue his hunger strike; several other protesters regarding Moradpour's situation have been arrested. The changing battlefield of 'proxy wars'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalization of Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. 1300 hours of internet outages; Witkoff: a horrific massacre occurred during the protests in Iran. The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is seeking decisive military options against Iran.' The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump emphasizes 'stopping executions in Iran': we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump says if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, it will be 'erased from the earth.'