Unjust Treatment of Political Prisoners Continues in Iran

Political prisoners are considered a threat to the Iranian regime, because they want to have a voice in the politics of the country, allowing the government to adapt to the needs of its people. However, the regime wants to maintain complete control and is continually consolidating its power base.

As a result, those who have differing political ideals often face prison sentences, as well as torture and horrific prison conditions, for expressing their point of view. One political prisoner recently wrote a letter expressing what life under the regime is like, particularly for those who express a differing ideology.

Reza Shahabi, who is a prominent Iranian labor activist, wrote about the human rights violations he has witnessed, but also to thank activists and others for their continued support.

“The abuse against me and my family started in 2000, when plainclothes agents arrested me in front of my passengers while I was driving under the false charge of armed robbery. The abuse has still not ended to this day…For 19 months, I was in a solitary cell in Evin Prison’s Section 209, where I was subjected to the most violent physical and mental torture and was threatened with execution several times,” said Shahabi.

He also noted that hunger strikes were key to having his voice heard.

“Why must a worker be treated like this for defending his minimum rights and those of his colleagues and also put his life and his family in danger? They thought they could intimidate the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Worker’s Syndicate and other independent workers’ organizations in the area by suppressing them and creating fear,” said Shahabi, when discussing the reason that activists are being targeted by the regime. However, he noted that these individuals will not stop trying to protect their freedom.

Tehran’s Prosecutor, Jafari Dolat-Abadi, recently talked about these political prisoners, which the regime calls security threats or offenders, including Soheil Arabi.

“In addition to committing blasphemy, Soheil Arabi has other charges including insulting government officials, spreading propaganda against the government and publishing vulgar images and his sentence is being carried out,” said Dolat-Abadi, during a meeting of the Council of Deputy Prosecutors on October 15. “His initial sentence was execution, but then the Supreme Court changed it to imprisonment. This confirms the independence of judges and the determination of the judiciary to issue verdicts based on laws.”

The Judiciary of Iran is arbitrary at best. One political prisoner could face execution, while another faces a lengthy prison sentence. Yet both will suffer horrific prison conditions and torture during their incarceration. Charges can be based on scant to no evidence and there is often little chance of being released, even if your sentence is overturned.

Emadodin Mullazehi had his sentence overturned, but he remains in prison because of the Ministry of Intelligence denying his release. He is dealing with multiple health issues, but he is also being deprived of necessary medical treatment.

Security forces also frequently raid the prisoners’ cells, violating their rights as prisoners. Additionally, they have also had their privacy violated, as cameras and security listening devices are put everywhere, including the bathrooms and showers.

“As none of the officials in the Islamic Republic work according to their positions in the government, prison authorities also step beyond their specified boundaries…We witness heads of prisons, continuously going into political prisoners’ dossiers, trying to disturb political activists in various ways, instead of attending to the affairs of the prison and prisoners,” said Golrokh Iraie, a detained human rights activist. “The level of hegemonic power prison authorities wields and their hostility towards political prisoners is such that generally medical records sent from the hospital containing political prisoners’ medical histories are erased from their files after a short period of time. If kfamilies don’t succeed in receiving specific documents from the hospital, prison authorities deny the prisoner’s illness and prevent any further medical treatment.”

Financial shortages within the prison budget have also meant that prisoners are being forced to find ways to care for their own needs or they simply must go without. The lack of funds is used to justify the horrible treatment of the prisoners throughout the system. This means that they must contend with a lack of water and food, unless their families can come up with the funds to assist them. 

No matter the reason that these individuals were arrested, the international community has outlined the basic standards of care that prisoners deserve. Yet, the mullahs’ regime continues to deny those rights to their prisoners. Calling out these illegal measures brings even more pressure from the regime, as they continue to focus on repressing the Iranian people.