‘Khamenei directly responsible for life of ailing hunger striker’ says reformist party

This article was last updated on May 21, 2022

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Political prisoner Abolfazl Ghadyani hospitalised after deterioration in health

Veteran political activist Abolfazl Ghadyani has reportedly been hospitalised just days after he began a hunger strike in the notorious Evin Prison. 

According to opposition website Kaleme, Ghadyani, 67, was transferred from Evin to Taleghani hospital after developing cardiac pain and other health complications as a result of his hunger strike.

Ghadyani, a senior member of the Mujahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organisation, a leading pro-reform group in Iran, went on hunger strike on Monday to protest his mistreatment at the hands of guards at Evin prison.

Earlier that day, the political prisoner was beaten by prison guards. After refusing to be taken hospital barefooted, Ghadyani was handcuffed and shackled, and tkaen to Tehran’s Pars hospital.

In a statement on Friday, the Mujahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organisation condemned Ghadyani’s abuse at the hands of prison officials. The group said that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be held directly responsible for anything that might happen to Ghadyani who was “paying the price of candidly criticising the leader.”

After serving out his initial one-year jail term, Ghadyani was sentenced to an additional three years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime, insulting the President,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

In June, Ghadyani released a statement from prison in which he scathingly compared Khamenei to Naser al-Din Shah, the 19th century Qajari tyrant who ruled Iran between 1848 and 1896.

“Ali Khamenei sees himself as the undisputed Sultan of Iran,” Ghadyani said, while holding the leader responsible for “all the blood that has been spilt” since the contested 2009 presidential election.

In December 2011 he wrote from prison: “I, and those like me, did not sacrifice our lives, wealth and freedom for the victory of the revolution so that three decades later Mr Ali Khamenei could reign over the country like this.”

Prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Abolfazl Ghadyani was arrested by Savak—the Shah’s brutal secret police force—and spent four years in prison for opposing the western-backed dictator.

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