http://www.rahana.org/en/?p=3822
In a press release on Tuesday, May 25, Reporters and Human Rights Activists of Iran expressed grave concerns over the well being of Majid Tavakoli and Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki, and called for their immediate release.
RAHANA – Press Release
May 25, 2010
Reporters and Human Rights Activists of Iran express their deepest concern over the inhumane detention conditions of Iranian political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including Majid Tavakoli and Hassan Ronaghi-Maleki. Iranian authorities and the Judiciary in particular have full responsibility for the safety and well beings of Tavakoli and Ronaghi-Maleki, 2 political prisoners who have gone on hunger strike to protest their detention conditions and the ongoing violations of their rights.
Long periods of solitary confinement combined with torture and other illegal types of pressure, various illnesses and lack of medical treatment have put lives of many prisoners at grave danger.
Reporters and Human Rights Activists of Iran urge the Iranian authorities to address the prisoner situation in a speedy and urgent manner.
Majid Tavakoli, a university student, was arrested on December 7, 2009, and subjected to unlawful treatment throughout his detention. He has been placed in solitary confinement for a total of 125 days, and has gone on hunger strike on several occasions to demand his legal rights. Tavakoli has been sentenced to 8 years in prison, during a trial which was held without the presence of a lawyer or a jury. In recent days, Tavakoli started a new hunger strike after being illegally moved back to solitary confinement. His family remains extremely concerned for his well being and believe that his hunger strike has put him in grave danger.
Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki, who blogged under the name Babak Khorramdin, is another prisoner of conscience to have gone on hunger strike to protest the harsh conditions of his detention and unlawful actions of the intelligence and judicial authorities. Reporters and Human Rights Activists of Iran have learnt that, Ronaghi-Maleki has suffered a number of physical conditions as result of his 6-month detention in the notorious ward 2A of Evin, which is managed by the IRGC. During a recent short phone call to his family, Ronaghi-Maleki was unable to carry a normal conversation as a result of his physical condition.
Ronaghi-Maleki was arrested on December 13, 2009, but under pressure exerted by intelligence agents, his family and his friends had been forced to keep the news of his arrest secret. Throughout his detention, Ronaghi-Maleki, has been subjected to excruciating physical and psychological torture techniques by his interrogators who want him to participate in televised confessions.
Reporters and Human Rights Activists of Iran hold the Iranian authorities directly responsible for the situation that has led to Tavakoli and Ronaghi-Maleki’s hunger strikes, and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience across Iran.
The ongoing repression in Iran has made it urgent for a trip to Iran by the UNHRC Commissioner and the UN special rapporteur to address the critical and alarming situation of human rights in the country. The silence of the UNHRC Commissioner will only result in further repression of Iranian citizens.