Two Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike; Trial of Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb and Transfer of Hamid Qaraoghlani to Solitary Confinement

Human rights sources reported on Tuesday, January 16, the latest status of Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb on the twenty-fourth day of his hunger strike in Qazalhasar Prison and Hamid Qaraoghlani on the third day of his hunger strike in Urmia Prison. A human rights source in Iran informed Voice of America that Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb, who is on the twenty-fourth day of his hunger strike, will be tried on Tuesday, January 16, on charges of 'propaganda against the regime' at Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Karaj. Previously, an informed source had told Voice of America that Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb began his hunger strike on Sunday in protest against the 'repeated case fabrication' against him in prison. According to this informed source, the basis for the new charge against Zartosht Ahmadi Raghb was a 'voice file' that he had sent out from prison. Additionally, the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that Hamid Qaraoghlani, a political prisoner serving a 13-year sentence in Urmia Prison, was transferred to solitary confinement on the third day of his hunger strike. An informed source told HRANA that due to the worsening of his illness and the continuation of the hunger strike, his transfer to solitary confinement has raised concerns among his family and relatives. Concerns for this political prisoner, who has been taken to solitary confinement, are increasing as previous reports indicate he suffers from epilepsy. Previously, Hanieh, Hamid Qaraoghlani's sister, told Voice of America that this political prisoner suffers from 'grand mal epilepsy' and is not in good physical condition.