A/HRC/28/70
the Intelligence Office and threatened with new charges, transfer to solitary confinement,
and with having family members arrested. On 9 December 2014, the Prison’s special guard
forces allegedly surrounded Ward 12 and threatened to attack the prisoners if they
continued the hunger strike.
43.
As of 16 December 2014, 27 prisoners at Urmia Prison were reportedly on hunger
strike. On 22 December 2014, 26 of the prisoners reportedly ended their hunger strike after
prison authorities committee to address their demands, including separating prisoners
according to crime committed and to stop harassing prisoners’ family members.
Mr. Masoud Shamsinejad, a Kurdish human rights lawyer, had joined the strike on
10 December 2014. In its response to the Draft Report, the Government maintained
Mr. Shamsinejad’s sentence was in accordance with provisions of the Islamic Penal Code
dealing with “propaganda,” “activities against the Government” (Articles 19 and 211). In
addition, the Government stated that denial of Mr. Shamsinejad’s petition for appeal was in
compliance with the Penal code (Article 500). Thus, there was no infringement upon his
due process rights.
44.
Two of the prisoners on hunger strike, Mr. Jafar Mirzaei and Mr. Arafat Asghari,
were reportedly also released from prison upon completion their six-month sentences.
Mr. Mansour Arvand, a Kurdish prisoner awaiting execution, was reportedly transferred to
Mahabad Prison.
45.
Mr. Reza Rasouli, reportedly began a hunger strike on 11 November 2014 protesting
Urmia Prison’s insufficient medical care. He remained on hunger strike for 49 days.
Mr. Rasouli’s health is deteriorating and he is in critical condition. He suffers from
bronchitis, a pelvic tumor, osteoporosis, bruised legs, and a lung infection. Prison
authorities reportedly agreed to transfer him to a hospital.
46.
The health condition of Mr. Afshin Sohrabzadeh, a Kurdish prisoner from the
Kermanshah province imprisoned in exile at Minab Prison (Hormozgan Province), is also
reportedly in critical condition. Prison physicians have reportedly diagnosed
Mr. Sohrabzadeh with cancer requiring urgent care. On 9 November 2014,
Mr. Sohrabzadeh was reportedly found unconscious and taken to a hospital in Minab. His
physician requested Mr. Sorabzadeh’s immediate transfer to a properly equipped hospital in
Bandar Abbas. Prison officials at the Minab Prosecutor’s Office allegedly rejected the
request, compelled the hospital to release him, and denied him medical furlough. It was
reported that Mr. Sohrabzadeh went on hunger strike to protest the officials’ conduct and
the denial of his medical care upon his return to prison. On the fifth day of his hunger
strike, he reportedly was put in solitary confinement at Minab Prison and asked to end his
hunger strike. Although Mr. Sohrabzadeh reportedly ended his strike on 12 December
2014, concern remains over his health condition and access to medical care. It is also noted
that on 3 July 2013, Mr. Sohrabzadeh reportedly attempted suicide in protest of his transfer
from the Sanandaj Central Prison to exile in Minab Prison.
47.
Mr. Ali Moradi, another Kurdish prisoner-in-exile at Minab Prison, suffers from
heart disease. Mr. Moradi objected to the delay in Mr. Sohrabzadeh’s medical treatment. In
response, prison authorities allegedly beat Mr. Moradi and place him in solitary
confinement, where he was reportedly kept for 22 days.
48.
Authorities allegedly also threatened Messrs. Ali Afshari, Mohammad Abdollahi,
and Saman Nasim, who were all awaiting execution, that they would expedite the
implementation of their sentences if they continued with their hunger strike. On
10 December, Intelligence officials allegedly requested Saman Nasim’s family to demand
33
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