View this profile on Instagram

Impact Iran (@impactiran) • Instagram photos and videos

09/01/2017 Press Releases (Jahangir)

“Prisoners of conscience at risk of dying after prolonged hunger strike” 

GENEVA ( 9 January 2017) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Ms. Asma Jahangir, today raised alarm over the critical health situation of several prisoners of conscience on prolonged hunger strike in the country.

In recent weeks, at least eight prisoners of conscience have been on life threatening hunger strike in Iran to contest the legality of their detention. Among them are Mr. Saeed Shirzad, Mr. Ali Shariati, Mr. Mohammad Reza Nekounam, Mr. Hassan Rastegari Majd, Mr. Mehdi Koukhian, Mr. Nizar Zakka, and Mr. Mohammed Ali Taheri.

Another prisoner, Mr. Arash Sadeghi, ended last week the hunger strike he had started on 24 October 2016, after his wife -Ms. Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee- was released on bail.

“Both Mr. Sadeghi and Ms. Ebrahimi Iraee are human rights defenders who have been imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association,” the expert said

The Special Rapporteur noted that, despite his critical health condition, Mr. Sadeghi is being denied transfer to specialized medical facilities and is reportedly kept in his cell.

“I call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that Mr. Arash Sadeghi has access, as a matter of utmost priority, to specialized health care in a hospital outside prison, in compliance with international human rights standards and medical ethics in particular the principles of informed consent,” she said.

“I am deeply concerned about the continuous detention of human rights defenders in Iran, who have been tried on the basis of vaguely defined offences and heavily sentenced following trials marred with due process violations,” Ms. Jahangir said. “They are left with no other option but to put their life at risk to contest the legality of their detention.”

The UN expert pointed out that such a situation persists just a few days after President Rouhani signed the Citizen Rights Charter, which enshrines the right to life, to freedom of opinion, expression and assembly in Iran.

“I urge the Iranian Government to immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and for peacefully promoting human rights observance in the country,” she stressed.

The hunger strikers

The UN expert has received information about the critical health situation currently faced by Ali Shariati, who has been on hunger strike since 31 October 2016.  Mr. Shariati is serving a five-year prison sentence imposed on him for his peaceful activism, including his participation in a non-violent protest to condemn acid attacks against women in Iran.

Fears have also been expressed for children’s rights activist Saeed Shirzad, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2015, and began a hunger strike on 7 December 2016, and for Mohammed Ali Taheri, who started a hunger strike on 28 September and whose whereabouts have been unknown since his reported transfer to Baghiatollah Military Hospital in October.

The UN expert also drew attention to the situation of Hassan Rastegari Majd, who is reported to be held in solitary confinement in retaliation for his prolonged hunger strike.

Ms. Jahangir’s call has been endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst; and the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mr. Roland Adjovi.

Link

UPCOMING EVENTS

(all times in EST)

07 12 23
  • International Civil Aviation Day

    07 12 23

09 12 23
  • International Anti-Corruption Day

    09 12 23

  • International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

    09 12 23

10 12 23
  • Human Rights Day

    10 12 23

  • Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony

    10 12 23
    Oslo City Hall Rådhusplassen 1, 0037 Oslo, Norway

11 12 23
  • International Mountain Day

    11 12 23

12 12 23
  • International Day of Neutrality

    12 12 23

13 12 23
  • Sakharov Prize 2023

    13 12 23
    Paul-Henri Spaak Building Rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Brussels Belgium

18 12 23
  • Arabic Language Day

    18 12 23

  • International Migrants Day

    18 12 23

20 12 23
  • International Human Solidarity Day

    20 12 23

27 01 24
  • International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

    27 01 24

04 02 24
  • World Cancer Day

    04 02 24

06 02 24
  • International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

    06 02 24

11 02 24
  • International Day of Women and Girls in Science

    11 02 24

13 02 24
  • World Radio Day

    13 02 24

20 02 24
  • World Day of Social Justice

    20 02 24

21 02 24
  • International Mother Language Day

    21 02 24

01 03 24
  • Zero Discrimination Day

    01 03 24

03 03 24
  • World Wildlife Day

    03 03 24

08 03 24
  • International Women's Day

    08 03 24

20 03 24
  • French Language Day

    20 03 24

  • International Day of Happiness

    20 03 24

21 03 24
  • International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

    21 03 24

  • International Day of Forests

    21 03 24

  • International Day of Nowruz

    21 03 24

  • World Down Syndrome Day

    21 03 24

  • World Poetry Day

    21 03 24

22 03 24
  • World Water Day

    22 03 24

23 03 24
  • World Meteorological Day

    23 03 24

24 03 24
  • International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

    24 03 24

  • World Tuberculosis Day

    24 03 24

25 03 24
  • International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

    25 03 24

  • International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members

    25 03 24

02 04 24
  • World Autism Awareness Day

    02 04 24

04 04 24
  • International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

    04 04 24

06 04 24
  • International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

    06 04 24