Kalameh - MelliMazhabi translated by Persian Banoo: After more than two months of detention, Dr. Mehdi Khazali was transferred back to Evin Ward 209 solitary confinement 10 days ago for the second time and continues his hunger strike.
According to Kalameh, more than two months after his latest arrest during the raid on the Writers Association meeting, pressure continues on this political prisoner, his family and friends.
Mehdi Khazali, on day 10 of his hunger strike, has lost a considerable amount of weight and is in poor health.
Previously, due to officials’ promise to release his fellow detainees, Dr. Khazali halted his hunger strike. But, he re-launched the hunger strike in protest of his transfer back to solitary confinement, and in protest against the continued illegal behavior by interrogators and the judicial institutions.
Currently, the summons and interrogation of people who have been in contact with the Dr. Khazali continues, forcing them to give an affidavit of promise to not have any contact with this political prisoner.
Kalameh had previously reported that Dr. Khazali’s children had been summoned to court and questioned.
The court has issued an injunction prohibiting the legal pursuit of Dr. Khazali’s daughter who was summoned earlier. However, the Judiciary has not yet made a decision regarding his wife and his brother who were also summoned.
Mehdi Khazali, who had previously launched a hunger strike protesting the illegal conduct of the Judiciary and the restrictions placed on him, decided to launch another hunger strike against the non-release of his fellow detainees, and his illegal transfer back to Ward 209 solitary confinement.
He halted his previous hunger strike with the officials’ promise of releasing his fellow detainees. He was then transferred to the General Ward 350, but without any explanation, he was transferred back to solitary confinement 10 days ago.
More than two months have passed since the latest arrest of this regime critic and political activist, and it seems pressure on the family and friends of Dr. Khazali is an effort to further isolate this political prisoner.
Dr. Mehdi Khazali, born in 1965, is a blogger, an ophthalmologist, Director of Hayan publishing and founder of Abasaleh Cultural Institute and Publishing.
Mehdi Khazali is the son of the hard-line cleric member of the Assembly of Experts Ayatollah Khazali.
He was arrested after criticizing the government sponsored march of 13 Aban (November 3, 2012) and asking the people to protest the current situation. This is Dr. Khazali’s sixth arrest in the past three years.
The Melli-Mazhabi site is also reporting Great efforts by the intelligence apparatuses to intensify pressure to further isolate Dr. Khazali.
According to reports received by Melli-Mazhabi site, the intelligence apparatuses are trying to stop any news from Dr. Khazali be published so they can further put him under pressure to keep silence and stop his criticism of the regime.
My hats off to these brave bunch who put their money where their pen is. They are the best Iran has to offer and they deserve our full support in their fight against tyranny.
Mehrdad
His younger brother, on the other hand, seems to be doing just fine. He's a pop sensation with a brand new video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/samir-zand-iran-pop-star_n_2490531.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false