Narges Mohammadi Threatens Hunger Strike If 'Essential Medications' Are Not Provided

Taghi Rahmani, the husband of Narges Mohammadi, has reported that Ms. Mohammadi has threatened to go on a hunger strike if she does not receive her 'essential medications' in prison. Mr. Rahmani wrote on his Facebook page that his wife met with their children for the second time on Sunday and added that her condition is 'worsening' and 'has deteriorated in the past few days.' Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist in Iran, was arrested at her home on May 4 and transferred to Evin Prison in Tehran. In an interview with Radio Farda, Taghi Rahmani was first asked about the reason for Ms. Mohammadi's threat to hunger strike: Taghi Rahmani: Narges had a visit. During the visit, she was not feeling well. This indicates that the process of incapacitating the civil activist is underway. Narges has been taking medication for five months. This medication was given to her by Dr. Nourbala, who is trusted by the authorities, from Imam Khomeini Hospital. Two of these medications were not provided, and three were given. Then they said that the prison doctor would prescribe her medication. The prison doctor is not specialized enough to prescribe these medications. Unfortunately, judicial authorities have also threatened her in prison, saying that if she makes noise, they will give her a harsher sentence this time. This is a concerning trend. Moreover, Narges has not been personally informed of the reason for her arrest. When they came to her house to arrest her, she requested to call her family and inform them. They took that opportunity away from her as well. All these are actions that are not in accordance with legal and judicial processes. Naturally, our concern about her situation increases. She has told them that if they do not give her my medications and this process continues, I, who have seizures and muscular paralysis, may go on a hunger strike. Now let’s see how the authorities will at least handle her treatment. Mr. Rahmani, why was Ms. Narges Mohammadi arrested and imprisoned, and where are your children now and what are they doing? They told the family it was due to Narges Mohammadi's previous case. The previous case is one in which she was sentenced to six years in 2011. Due to severe muscular paralysis and illness, prison doctors and specialists in Zanjan and various places have stated that prison is not a suitable environment for her, and she cannot endure punishment in prison. She was granted leave and came out. After four years, due to her physical condition, she qualifies for conditional release according to the same laws, as her body cannot endure punishment. Furthermore, Narges's activities have been civil activities. According to the same citizens' charter of Mr. Rouhani, the Minister of Information, whose agency is the complainant in Narges's case, should not reconsider and withdraw this case. If that is the case, what happens to the citizens' charter? One of the new charges against Narges Mohammadi is that she held a meeting to critique the request of the President, namely the review and critique of the citizens' charter, or a meeting to request clean air. These are the crimes of a civil activist. Our children are currently with family. My family, Narges's family. In the current situation, what is your expectation from the judiciary and the responsible authorities regarding Ms. Narges Mohammadi? There are three important issues. It is essential to pay attention to this. I think this is very important. One is that the situation we are currently dealing with, for whatever reason, is somewhat a war between factions of the government, where we civil activists and forces outside the government are usually the victims. My specific demand is that the judiciary set aside its factional and political nature and deal with this case properly. On the other hand, my demand from the Rouhani government and Mr. Alavi, according to the promise he made, the promise he made to the parliament, is that he should try as much as he can. He has promised to review these cases again. This case, which he says she must serve six years in prison, and this sentence was issued in 2011, is subject to review. According to the promise made by Mr. Alavi, the Minister of Information, the complainant in this case is the Ministry of Information. If the Ministry of Information withdraws this complaint, many political prisoners will be released. This is my explicit demand, and they should adhere to the laws that at least they themselves believe in, and any action taken against Narges Mohammadi so far has been an incapacitating action against a civil activist. A civil activist who tries to bring civil institutions closer together in Iranian civil society and engage in civil activities according to the current laws of the Islamic Republic, such behaviors are not crimes unless we want to fabricate a case against someone.