Soheil Arabi's Hunger Strike Again

Soheil Arabi has gone on another hunger strike in protest against the beating of imprisoned civil rights activists Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee. Soheil Arabi was initially sentenced to death for writing critical content online, accused of 'insulting the Prophet,' although his sentence was later reduced to 7 years in prison. Reports indicate that Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, who are considered human rights activists, were transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin on Wednesday under violent circumstances. Farangis Mazloom, Soheil Arabi's mother, confirmed her son's renewed hunger strike in an interview with Radio Farda on Friday night. Atena Daemi, a child rights activist, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for charges including propaganda against the regime and insulting the leadership and founder of the Islamic Republic, while Golrokh Iraee received a 6-year sentence for writing an unpublished story about stoning and burning the Quran, charged with insulting sacred beliefs and propaganda against the regime. In a message sent from Evin Prison in solidarity with Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, Soheil Arabi called for the release of political prisoners. He stated, 'Two of our comrades, whose crime is humanitarianism and defending the rights of their people, have been violently transferred to the torture chamber of Qarchak. When I said the least we could do to appreciate those who have sacrificed themselves to save their community and are now imprisoned is to break down the prison doors, many mocked me and called me crazy. But my message to you, the rational crowd who consider indifference and silence in the face of criminals as wisdom, is: What are you doing for Golrokh and Atena? A Twitter storm and a few days of noise on the internet followed by forgetfulness? I, however, am willing to give my life for those who sacrificed themselves to awaken us. It is painful that I am now in prison and have no way to protest against the torturers and executioners other than hunger strike, and I will not end my strike until my comrades are freed from that torture chamber. We only live once, and no threat or torture should scare us from living well. I have lived with anger and debate, and when judges proved that there is no doubt or mistake in their justice, condemning humanity, I placed the dying person on my knee and stood with my hands bound. Hoping for the freedom of Arash, Golrokh, Atena, and all our comrades and for the awakening of our claiming friends.' Soheil Arabi was arrested in November 2013 along with his wife, who was later released on bail. Arabi, who faces charges of insulting Islamic sanctities, was sentenced in a retrial to 90 months in prison and two years of religious studies to prove remorse and escape the death penalty.