A father and son brutalized in the political prisoners’ ward in Urmia Prison

Iran-HRM – Dangerous inmates in the political prisoners’ ward in the Central Prison of Urmia beat up and brutalized political prisoners Ebrahim Khalil Sedighi Hamedi and his son, Salar, on May 5, 2021, reports from this prison say.

Prison authorities in the Central Prison of Urmia forcibly transferred this father and son to the political prisoners’ ward where, six months ago, they had been harassed by several dangerous inmates paid by prison authorities to do so.

Ebrahim and Salar were therefore transferred out of the political prisoners’ ward and imprisoned in the ordinary prisoners’ ward, called “Moshavereh” (literally meaning consultation).

Despite his knowledge about these violent incidents, the “observer judge” ordered the transfer of both prisoners back to the political prisoners’ ward. On Wednesday, May 5, they were forcibly moved to one of the rooms in the previous ward. Immediately after their arrival, dangerous inmates attacked and brutalized both prisoners. So, the “observer judge” had to send them back to the Moshavereh ward.

Such decisions by prison authorities are meant to increase pressure on political prisoners.

Two weeks earlier, the advisor of the Moshavereh ward, Daniali, broke the television in the room where Ebrahim and Salar Khalil Sedighi Hamedi were being detained. He also banned their visitations for three months without presenting any reasons. Daniali is legally not entitled to meddle in the prisoners’ affairs.

Ebrahim Khalil Sedighi Hamedani was arrested on February 23, 2019, along with his son, Salar, and daughter, Maryam. They were transferred to the Central Prison of Urmia on April 23, 2019, after two months of interrogations.

Maryam Sedighi Hamedani was released on bail on April 25, 2019.

Ebrahim Khalil Sedighi Hamedani is 62 and suffers from diabetes.

Ebrahim Khalil and Salar Sedighi Hamedani were sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison by Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia on charges of “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)” and “propaganda against the state.”

Ebrahim Khalil Sedighi Hamedani had been arrested in 2005 for “collaborating with the People’s Mojahedin of Iran” and sentenced to six years in jail. He was conditionally released after serving two years.

On August 3, 2020, six inmates incited by the prison’s warden brutalized and wounded political prisoners Ebrahim Khalil and Salar Sedighi Hamedani.

Since the attack had been carried out on the orders of the prison’s warden and the internal manager, Amirbeigi, the wounded political prisoners were transferred to the quarantine ward, instead of the infirmary.

These two prisoners have been frequently harassed and brutalized during their time in prison. They have already contracted the Coronavirus.