Two Imprisoned Journalists on Hunger Strike in Critical Condition

Ehsan Mazandarani and Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, two imprisoned journalists who have recently gone on hunger strikes, are in critical physical condition, with reports indicating that Mr. Kaboudvand has been transferred to a hospital. The analytical news website Zeytoon reported on Sunday that after 21 days of hunger strike, "the risk of death threatens Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand," and this journalist and human rights activist was unconscious and transferred to the hospital due to the continuation of his hunger strike. The Kurdistan Human Rights Defense Organization confirmed this report, stating that "according to the latest news received, Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand has become unconscious due to 'severe low blood pressure caused by the hunger strike' and is hospitalized in the general ward of Taleghani Hospital." This human rights organization also reminded that doctors have stated that if the hunger strike continues, there is a risk of a heart attack, and he should be hospitalized in the intensive care unit. According to this report, the hospital officials advised Mr. Kaboudvand's family that he should end his hunger strike as soon as possible. This organization had previously reported on May 21 that Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand had gone on hunger strike in protest against the fabrication of charges and the intensification of pressure and harassment by security officials. Mr. Kaboudvand, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for founding the Kurdistan Human Rights Defense Organization, has been in detention since July 2007 and has gone on hunger strikes several times. On the other hand, Radio Farda learned that Ehsan Mazandarani, a journalist who was sentenced to seven years in prison after months of detention in May of this year, is also on hunger strike and is in poor physical condition. A relative of Ehsan Mazandarani informed Radio Farda that this imprisoned journalist has developed infections in the trachea, lungs, and intestines due to "poor detention conditions" and has been on hunger strike for the past 12 days in protest against the "injustice" in handling his case and the sentence issued. Mr. Mazandarani was transferred from Ward 8 of Evin Prison to Ward 2A, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, on May 28, and was returned to Ward 8 after a few days. Sam Hosseini, the brother-in-law of Ehsan Mazandarani, told Radio Farda that this imprisoned journalist went on "dry hunger strike" on Tuesday, May 28, "at the moment of his arrival" in Ward 2A of Evin Prison. According to Mr. Hosseini, Ehsan Mazandarani's hunger strike in Ward 2A lasted for a week, and after being transferred back to Ward 8, he is now on "wet hunger strike." He also stated that this imprisoned journalist has "developed infections in the trachea, lungs, and intestines due to poor detention conditions" and has lost "40 kilograms" during his detention and imprisonment. Previously, Maliheh Hosseini, Ehsan Mazandarani's wife, wrote on her Instagram page on May 31 that Ehsan Mazandarani had written a "will" before being transferred from Ward 8 of Evin Prison and had "posted" it to her. According to Reporters Without Borders, Iran, with "34 imprisoned journalists and citizen journalists," is one of the five largest prisons in the world for media activists. China, Egypt, Turkey, and Eritrea are other countries with the highest number of imprisoned journalists. However, despite numerous reports about the detention and imprisonment of journalists, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, claimed on May 17 that "we have the highest security for journalists inside the country" and that the crimes of journalists detained in Iran are "related to the internal and external security of the country."