Hunger Strike in Adelabad Prison; Mohammad Davari Protests 'Injustice' Against Prisoners

The Free Workers Union of Iran reported on Thursday, June 14, that Mohammad Davari, a labor activist imprisoned in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, has had no contact with his family since Saturday, June 9, raising concerns for their well-being. According to the report, Mr. Davari was transferred from the 'Green Block for Adults' to a solitary confinement cell with poor sanitary conditions as punishment for protesting against injustice and the treatment by the prison store manager. He has gone on a hunger strike in protest of this action. The Free Workers Union of Iran warned about the consequences of this political prisoner’s hunger strike for his life. Previously, the HRANA news agency reported on Wednesday, June 13, citing a source close to Mr. Davari's family, that 'Mohammad's punitive transfer to solitary confinement occurred after he and several other prisoners protested the treatment by the prison store manager, creating tension between them.' Earlier, Voice of America had reported on the poor conditions of 'non-affiliated prisoners' in Evin Prison. The report also noted that simultaneously with this labor activist, 'two other political prisoners named Sajjad Zare and Sirous Moloudi were also transferred to solitary confinement, with Mr. Moloudi returned to the Green Block on Wednesday and Mr. Zare transferred to the judicial block of Adelabad Prison (suite).' Mohammad Davari was arrested on May 15 of this year and transferred to Adelabad Prison to serve his sentence. He was sentenced in early December of last year by the First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz to three years of imprisonment for 'insulting the leadership,' a travel ban with passport cancellation, a prohibition on social media activity, and two years of forced residence in Bardasir County, Kerman, and an additional year and six months for 'propaganda against the regime in favor of opposition groups on social media.' HRANA noted that under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the harsher punishment of three years in prison is applicable to him. A source close to Mohammad Davari's family told HRANA about the details of the court proceedings: 'The court did not announce any specific evidence regarding the charge of insulting the leadership against the accused. Additionally, another part of his case regarding the charge of spreading falsehoods is under review in the Criminal Court of Shiraz.' The hearing for Mohammad Davari's charges was held in absentia on November 19, 2023. Mohammad Davari has previously been arrested and imprisoned due to his union activities. Meanwhile, the wife of Mohammad Nourizad, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, reported his punitive transfer to solitary confinement after 'protesting against the overpricing of fruits and vegetables' to prisoners and 'open theft' from them. Fatemeh Maleki wrote in an Instagram note on Wednesday, June 13, that Mohammad Nourizad has been engaged in protests against the overpricing of fruits and vegetables to prisoners for the past two months, prisoners who are often struggling to meet their daily needs. This family member of political prisoners explained that Mohammad Nourizad could not bear witness to this 'open theft' from prisoners and, after his protests yielded no results, has been on a hunger and medication strike since Saturday, June 9, and has also refused in-person visits and phone calls.