UN Rapporteur Warns of Critical Condition of Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike

Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, has warned of the risk of death for political prisoners in Iran who have engaged in prolonged hunger strikes. According to the UN website, Jahangir stated on January 10 that these prisoners are in a concerning state. In recent weeks, at least eight political prisoners in Iranian prisons have faced life-threatening situations due to hunger strikes protesting their unlawful detentions. Among them are prisoners such as Saeed Shirzad, Ali Shariati, Mohammad Reza Nokonam, Hassan Rostgari Majd, Mehdi Kouhian, Nizar Zaka, and Mohammad Ali Taheri. The report mentions the end of the hunger strike by Arash Sadeghi, a political prisoner sentenced to 19 years in prison, who had been on hunger strike since October 25 in protest against the unlawful detention of his wife. Sadeghi ended his hunger strike after his wife was released on bail. The report also notes that Golrokh Iraee and her husband Arash Sadeghi, both human rights activists, were arrested, interrogated, and prosecuted for their peaceful protests in defense of freedom of expression and assembly. Jahangir highlighted that despite Sadeghi's deteriorating health, prison officials refused to transfer him to a hospital for treatment. In another part of her report, Jahangir emphasized the need for prioritizing Sadeghi's treatment and urged Iranian authorities to act in accordance with international human rights standards and medical ethics. Jahangir expressed serious concern over the detention of human rights activists in Iran, who are deemed guilty based on vague definitions and face heavy sentences from flawed courts and procedural violations. She stated, 'These individuals have put their lives at risk solely to protest their unlawful detention.' The UN Special Rapporteur pointed out that the current conditions come just days after the signing of the 'Citizen Rights' document by Hassan Rouhani, which emphasizes the sanctity of the right to life, freedom of expression, and assembly. In this statement, Jahangir calls on the Iranian government to release all unlawfully detained prisoners who defend their rights to freedom of expression and belief and promote human rights in the country without any preconditions. The report also mentions that the Special Rapporteur received information about the critical condition of Ali Shariati, who has been on hunger strike since October 31. He is serving a five-year sentence imposed for his peaceful activities, including his protests against acid attacks on women. The statement expresses concern over the situation of Saeed Shirzad and Mohammad Ali Taheri, who are also on hunger strikes. Shirzad, a child rights activist serving a five-year sentence since 2015, has been on hunger strike since December 8. Mohammad Ali Taheri has been on hunger strike since September 29 and is being held in an unspecified location. Jahangir's report also raises concerns about Hassan Rostgari Majd, who is on hunger strike in solitary confinement. Michael Frost, the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, and Ronald Aju, the head of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, have supported Jahangir's request. Meanwhile, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, stated on January 5 in response to the hunger strikes of political prisoners that 'if they intend to pressure the judiciary from inside and outside, they are gravely mistaken, and the judiciary will not yield.' Jahangir is 64 years old and was born in Lahore, Pakistan. She is considered a long-time human rights activist in Pakistan and the founder of the country's Human Rights Commission. Jahangir served as the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief from 2004 to 2010. Ahmed Shaheed was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran in 2011 and condemned the Islamic Republic for human rights violations in various reports. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights collects and organizes news and instances of human rights violations within their area of work and submits them to the United Nations.