Opening of 'Three New Cases' for Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab; Jafar Ebrahimi Temporarily Ends Hunger Strike

The lawyer of Jafar Ebrahimi stated that this imprisoned teacher has temporarily ended his hunger strike due to a medical transfer on Tuesday. Simultaneously, Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab reported in a phone call that the judiciary has opened 'three new cases' against him. Erfan Karamvasi, a lawyer, wrote on the 'X' messaging platform on Tuesday, September 19, that his client Jafar Ebrahimi, 'a teacher exiled to Qezel Hessar prison,' mentioned in a phone call that 'considering the medical transfer today' and 'the requests from family, teachers, and other activists,' he has temporarily ended his hunger strike since Tuesday evening. Jafar Ebrahimi, who was transferred from Evin prison to Qezel Hessar along with several other political prisoners, was taken to Rajai Hospital in Karaj on Wednesday, September 13, due to 'worsening illness' and 'unconsciousness.' This member of the board of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations suffers from intestinal diseases and diabetes. Meanwhile, civil activist Pouya Jigarvand reported on the 'X' platform about a brief call from Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab. This political prisoner, held in Qezel Hessar, who was arrested about six months ago during teachers' protests, stated in this brief call that he has been taken to 'three prisons' during this time and 'three new cases' have been opened against him. According to this report, as he mentioned this news, a prison officer 'monitoring the conversation' immediately cut off his phone. Jafar Ebrahimi and Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab, along with several other political prisoners including Kamyar Fakour, Loqman Aminpour, Saeed Masouri, Afshin Bayamani, Sepehr Imam Jom'e, Mohammad Shafaei, Saman Seydi (Yasin), Hamzeh Savari, Ahmadreza Haeri, Reza Salmanzadeh, and Masoudreza Ebrahimi Nejad, have been transferred to Qezel Hessar prison. Some of these prisoners, including Saeed Masouri, Zartosht Ahmadi Raghab, Hamzeh Savari, and Reza Salmanzadeh, have separately described their transfer from Evin prison to Qezel Hessar as 'kidnapping' and have referred to Qezel Hessar prison as a 'black hole' and a 'terrifying slaughterhouse,' warning of a 'humanitarian catastrophe.' Judicial authorities and prison officials of the Islamic Republic have not yet responded to these reports. Reza Akavaniyan, a human rights activist, previously told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic aims for a 'silent killing' of political prisoners by exiling them to Qezel Hessar.