Hunger Strike of 3 Prisoners in Urmia; Government Forces Raid Homes of Political Activists in East Azerbaijan

Human rights media reported on the hunger strike of three prisoners in Urmia prison and the raid by government forces on the homes of several political and civil activists in East Azerbaijan province. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported on Wednesday, October 10, that Hadi Rostami, Reza Ramazani, and Salah Karimi, three prisoners from the cities of Ilam and Boukan, are on hunger strike in solitary confinement at Urmia Central Prison. According to the report, these prisoners, who are on the twelfth and thirteenth days of their hunger strike, have been deprived of the right to contact and visit their families. The report states that Hadi Rostami, a prisoner sentenced to amputation, was transferred to solitary confinement on October 28 as punishment by the authorities of Urmia prison and is currently on the twelfth day of his hunger strike. He is protesting his transfer to solitary confinement and has been transferred to the prison infirmary once due to kidney bleeding during this period. The report also indicates that he has been threatened with the execution of his amputation sentence by Payman Khanzadeh, the head of Urmia Central Prison. Previously, in Esfand of last year, more than 800 prisoners at Urmia Central Prison issued a letter demanding the resignation of Payman Khanzadeh, citing harassment of themselves and their families by the prison head and the suicide of several prisoners due to the harsh conditions prevailing in the prison. The report continues with information about Reza Ramazani and Salah Karimi, two prisoners from Boukan who were transferred to solitary confinement at Urmia Central Prison on October 27 as punishment for arguing with prison guards and are currently on their thirteenth day of hunger strike. According to the report, these two prisoners, who were previously arrested on charges of 'fighting' in Boukan, were severely beaten by prison guards in that city. They were transferred to solitary confinement at Urmia Central Prison as punishment due to injuries sustained from the 'torture' by the Boukan prison guards. Government forces raided the homes of several political and civil activists in East Azerbaijan province. The Ahrar website reported that on Tuesday, October 16, government forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran raided the homes of several 'political and civil activists' in the village of Nazarlu in East Azerbaijan province, searching their homes. According to the report, these forces searched the homes of Mohammad Reza Aghdasi, Hadi Aghdasi, Vahid Ghafari, and Jalal Nourmohammadi without presenting a legal warrant and confiscated personal belongings including their mobile phones and books. These four political and civil activists have previously been arrested, summoned, and threatened by government forces. Ahrar also reported that Hassan Abdollahi (Omodavoglu), a poet, writer, and researcher, was arrested by government agents in Tabriz on Monday, October 15, after leaving his home and was transferred to an unknown location. A relative of Mr. Abdollahi told Ahrar that there is no information available regarding the reason for his arrest and his place of detention. Hassan Abdollahi has previously been arrested and summoned multiple times by government agencies and has been sentenced to imprisonment by the judiciary. Currently, several political and civil activists including Ali Razi Zadeh, Abdulaziz Azimi Qadim, Morteza Parvin, Taher Naqavi, Hossein Peiri, Karam Mardane Mostali Beigloo, Baqer Hajizadeh Mazraeh, Saeed Jamalzadeh, and Ayaz Seyfkhah are in prison.