25/03/2021
To: Michelle Bachelet
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Cc: Javaid Rehman, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union
David-Maria Sassoli, European Parliament president
Re: Transferring political prisoners in Iran
Dear Michelle Bachelet
I would like to draw your attention to the recent increase of transferring several well-known political prisoners to prisons across Iran and being kept with common prisoners who are arrested for murder and drug-related offenses. This is a deliberate attempt by the Islamic regime in Iran to exert more psychological pressure and torture on political prisoners. We urge you to take immediate action to pressure the Islamic regime to stop the transfer of political prisoners and demand the release of all political prisoners in Iran.
We have been informed that while being transferred, some of these political prisoners were handcuffed, shackled, and insulted in the process. Political prisoners, Atena Daemi and Sepideh Gholian were handcuffed and shackled and were deprived of a phone call to their families.
In protest to these transfers, more than 30 political prisoners in several prisons started a hunger strike and 18 political prisoners issued a statement protesting the transfers.
Some Facts:
Since February 2021, the regime in Iran has increased the transfer of political prisoners mainly from the infamous Evin prison to other jails where they are being kept among common prisoners who are arrested for offenses such as murder and drug-related felonies. Some of the transferred political prisoners include Esmael Abdi, teachers’ rights activist; Atena Daemi, children and women’s rights activist; Sepideh Gholian labor rights activist; Golrokh Iraee, women’s rights activists; Yasaman Ariaee and Monireh Arabshahi, women’s rights activists; Sepideh Farahan, women’s rights activists; Mojhgan Keshavar, women’s rights activists; Zeynab Jalalian and Maryam Akbarimonfared political activists; Kasra Nouri of Daravishes religious minority.
The Islamic regime in Iran has started imposing the tactic of transferring (exiling) well-known and outspoken political prisoners to common jails several years ago. Nasrin Studeh, a jailed human rights lawyer, was previously transferred to Gharchak prison. Soheil Arabi, a well-known jailed blogger and an atheist was transferred to Fashafouyeh prison several times. Both Gharchak and Fashafouyeh prisons are used to hold common prisoners who have been convicted for murder and drug-related offenses. These prisons are infamous for their horrendous conditions.
I would like to draw your attention to the following points which portray the intention behind the alarming increase in transferring political prisoners in Iran and endangering their lives:
- The Islamic regime is using the method of transfer to exert more psychological pressure and torture on the political prisoners and their families. The prison which these prisoners are transferred to is far away from their families, which makes it challenging, if not impossible in some cases, for their families to visit them.
- The Islamic regime deliberately places these political prisoners in a dangerous situation where they might lose their lives. The prisons for common prisoners are known for their extreme lack of hygiene and clean drinking water. There are many contagious illnesses and infectious diseases among the prisoners. These illnesses are deliberately left untreated and the prisoners in these prisons are left in the most inhuman condition.
- There have been times where the prison guards provoked common prisoners to attack the well-known and outspoken political prisoners. One such example is Mr Alireza Shir Mohammad Ali, who was 21 when he was attacked and killed by two common prisoners in Fashafouyeh prison.
I would like to urge you to take immediate action to pressure the Islamic regime in Iran to stop transferring political prisoners and release them immediately and unconditionally. Only an international action will pressure the Islamic regime in Iran to stop the transfer of political prisoners and save their lives.
Following is the letter from a jailed student activist, Arash Sadeghi, who is the husband of the above-mentioned name jailed women’s rights activist Golrokh Iraee. Sadeghi‘s letter describes the intention behind the transfer ( exile ) of political prisoners and the condition of the common prisons. https://wp.me/p9yWrK-1d1
Shiva Mahbobi
Spokesperson
Campaign to Free Political prisoners in Iran (CFPPI)
+44 7572356661