Hamzeh Darvish's Hunger Strike in Lakan Prison in Rasht Reaches 10 Days

The news agency of human rights activists in Iran reported on Friday, September 30, that Hamzeh Darvish, a Sunni prisoner in Lakan Prison in Rasht, has been on hunger strike for 10 days in protest against the lack of attention to his demands. The news agency HRANA noted that Hamzeh Darvish is currently being held in one of the solitary confinement cells of Lakan Prison in Rasht. HRANA also quoted an informed source stating that Hamzeh Darvish has had no contact with his family for the past 10 days, and after multiple inquiries, his family learned that he went on hunger strike due to not being granted leave and was subsequently transferred to a solitary confinement cell. This informed source emphasized that his case was reviewed by the Supreme Court, leading to a ruling, but Mr. Darvish did not appeal the ruling due to financial inability to hire a lawyer. Earlier this year, in Ordibehesht, he attempted suicide by swallowing pills in protest against a 14-year prison sentence issued against him. Last August, Hamzeh Darvish was sentenced to 5 years in prison for 'colluding against national security', 5 years for 'participation in intentional destruction aimed at opposing the regime', 2 years for 'insulting the leadership', and 2 years for 'insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic', along with exile to Ramhormoz due to 'intentional arson of prison buildings and their attachments aimed at opposing the regime'. This case was formed during his imprisonment, with the prison organization as the complainant. Hamzeh Darvish, a young man from Talesh in Gilan province, explained in a letter in 2019 that a friend deceived him into going to Turkey and then Syria to join ISIS; however, after refusing to join them, he was imprisoned and tortured by ISIS forces. He later managed to escape from Syria and surrendered to the Iranian embassy in Turkey, requesting to return to Iran while explaining what had happened to him. The execution of at least 6 prisoners coincided with the hunger strike of prisoners in the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign in Shiraz and Gorgan. The hunger strike of Ahmadreza Jalali in prison has ended; he wants his voice to be heard. Three political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin and 22 prisoners in Urmia have gone on hunger strike. Participants in the 'No to Execution Tuesdays' campaign stated that resistance against religious tyranny is necessary.