Sit-in protest by political prisoners in Qarchak Prison
Political prisoners in Qarchak Prison held a sit-in protest after Zahra Safaei was denied a prison-to-prison visit with her son, Massoud Moini, in Evin Prison.
News from Qarchak Prison on July 12 indicates that two political prisoners, Zahra Safaei and her daughter, Parastoo Moini, held a sit-in protest in Qarchak Prison. The sit-in followed the rejection of their request to visit their son and brother, Massoud Moini, in Evin Prison.
Zahra Safaei’s health deteriorated during the sit-in. She has a heart condition and had previously suffered a heart stroke while in jail.
Other political prisoners in Qarchak Prison started chanting to support this mother and daughter.
In this way, the political prisoners in Qarchak Prison forced the prison’s notorious warden, Soghra Khodadadi, to accept the righteous request of Zahra Safaei and Parastoo Moini.
A report on the sit-in protest by political prisoners in Qarchak Prison
An informed source said, “Three months ago, Mrs. Zarha Safaei and Parastoo Moini requested a visit with their son and brother in Evin Prison. But their request was passed around without being answered. Hayat-ol Ghaib and Eliasi had promised to examine the case. After such a long time, they answered that they could not have a prison-to-prison visit.”
The source added, “Today, July 12, both political prisoners held a sit-in in the corridor until 1.30 p.m. Zahra Safaei’s health deteriorated as she has a heart condition. She returned to the ward on the prison staff’s orders to take her medicine. However, the staff closed the door on her and locked her up. Nobody responded to her. Simultaneously, the staff engaged in a quarrel with her daughter, Parastoo. Fariba Assadi and Forough Taghipour started chanting slogans to show their support and banged on the door. This situation lasted one hour, but no one opened the door for them.”
The report continued, “The staff came to the door but only insulted and provoked the prisoners. On the orders of Ms. Amiri, the head of the ward, Ms. Tavakkoli said they were not allowed to open the door. Subsequently, the head of Intelligence Protection, Mr. Heydari, Ms. Sahraii, and Ms. Kamali came. Again, they insulted and threatened the prisoners and said, ‘You only make things difficult for yourself.’ ”
After this incident, Fariba Assadi’s arms were bruised and bloody. After one hour, the staff opened the door. Forough Taghipour, Fariba Assadi, and Zahra Safaei entered the corridor and joined Parastoo Moini. Saba Kord Afshari joined the sit-in from ward 6.
Nervous pressure built up on Zahra Safaei and Fariba Assadi. Later, they had to refer to the prison’s clinic. They were in the clinic until 5.30 p.m. The prison’s staff, including Tavakkoli, Amiri, and Shaelli, the head of inspections, started insulting the political prisoners again. They threatened the women and said, ‘You are making things more difficult for yourself.’ ”
The source said during all this time, and until 5.30 p.m. Soghra Khodadadi did not come to the scene. At this time, Zahra Safaei and Parastoo Moini went to her office. The sit-in continued with Forough Taghipour and Fariba Assadi.
Khodadadi pretended to have no information on what had happened on that day. She contacted Eliyasi, but he did not answer. Then Khodadadi promised to talk to Hayat-ol Gheib, the head of the Prisons Organization, on Tuesday night, July 12, and receive his consent over the prison-to-prison visit this week.
The source concluded, “In addition to this case, several other prisoners are entitled to prison-to-prison visits, and Khodadadi can follow up on their case, but she does not do so. She does not do anything for the prisoners.”
Political prisoners in Qarchak Prison are deprived of prison-to-prison visits. According to the rules of the Prisons Organization, family members detained in different prisons are entitled to prison-to-prison visitations.
