From left: Majid Tavakoli, Keyvan Samimi, and Bahman Ahmadi Amouie

(4 August 2010) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately release seventeen prisoners of conscience who have been on hunger strike for the past ten days and whose health is deteriorating daily, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

The seventeen prisoners include prominent student leaders, journalists, and human rights activists.

“These prisoners have committed no crimes and are in prison solely because of their opinions and beliefs. Iran should release them immediately,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

According to information received by the Campaign, the seventeen prisoners are being held in solitary confinement in ward 350 of Evin prison and communications with their families have been suspended.

The Campaign is seriously concerned about the health and safety of the prisoners of conscience. Three of the prisoners, Bahman Ahmadi Amouie, Keyvan Samimi, and Majid Tavakoli, started a “dry” hunger strike as of today, refusing even drinking water.

The other fourteen are continuing their “wet” hunger strike, meaning they are taking in only liquids. They include: Abdollah Moemeni, Ali Malihi, Hossein Nouraninejad, Kouhyar Goudarzi, Zia Nabavi, Majid Darri, Babak Bordbar, Gholamhossein Arshi, Mohammad Hossein Sohrabi rad, Ali Parviz, Hamid Reza Mohammadi, Jaafar Eghdami, Peyman Karimi Azad, and Ebrahim Babaei.

A family member of one of the detainees told the Campaign that the health condition of the prisoners in ward 350 has worsened over the past two months and the guards systematically use techniques to humiliate and put pressure on prisoners and their families. Tehran’s Prosecutor has kept silent about the ill-treatment of prisoners and has not provided any accountability to family members who have repeatedly sought to bring the prisoners’ dire condition to his attention.

The Campaign urged the Iranian Judiciary to release all prisoners of conscience who are held solely for their beliefs and opinions. The Campaign holds Iranian authorities responsible for the health and safety of prisoners of conscience on hunger strike.