Hunger Strike of a Prisoner in Tabriz Central Prison

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Reza Sobhkhiz, prisoner in Tabriz central prison, has been on hunger strike for over twenty days. He is held in ward 12 of Tabriz central prison since 8 years ago because general criminal offenses. Mohammad Reza Sobhkhiz is deprived of his freedom despite the end of his impressment due to repayments and the private plaintiff. The correspondence of this prisoner to the judicial authorities regarding the inability to pay the charges, have not yet come to an end and the prisoner has been on hunger strike for the 20 days in protest against this situation.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mohammad Reza Sobhkhiz, prisoner in Tabriz central prison, has been on hunger strike for over twenty days.

A source close to Mr. Sobhkhiz told HRANA’s reporter, “The detainee was sentenced to three years in jail and 104 lashes on charge of theft and escaping from prison.

Despite the end of his sentence, he continues to be held in jail because of his private plaintiff, and his family’s pursuit and correspondence to the judiciary, the presidency, and the leadership have not yet ended in any results,” the source added.

In addition, the source told HRAN’s reporter that “the prisoner had sawn his lips and declared the hunger strike due to the lack of legal pursuit to his case since 20 days ago.”

Close relatives of Mr. Sobhkhiz claim that the charges against this prisoner were brought in the intelligence office are not acceptable and all the confessions of Mr. Sobhkhiz have been under to torture and pressure by the staff of the Tabriz police station.

During the hunger strike, he was transferred to solitary confinement several times, and his physical condition has been described as inappropriate.

The head of ward 12 of Tabriz Central Prison reacted to the prisoner’s hunger strike and said, “When you die, we will pursuit your case.” The prisoner was deprived of the right to have furlough during the eight years of imprisonment, and only at the time of his mother’s death, he was allowed to attend her funeral with bracelets and adherents. Since the onset of the strike until the moment of setting up the report, he has been deprived of having prison visits.