One of the Hunger Strikers at Uremia Prison Threatened to Death by Prison Officer
14-December-2014
Category: Prisoners
Breathing in Confinement – Ali Afshari, a political prisoner in the central prison of Urema in the twenty-first day of his hunger strike was transferred to hospital and was threatened to death by the officer who accompanied him in the hospital.
According to the report of “Breathing in a Confinement”, Ali Afshari was transferred to A&E of “Imam Khomeini” hospital in Uremia and after a few hours he was returned to the prison.
One of the prisoners in central prison of Uremia told “Breathing in Confinement’s” reporter: “In the morning of Wednesday, 10th of December, inmates in ward 12, found Ali Afshari in an unconscious condition in the bathroom of the ward and immediately transferred him to the prison’s clinic.”
He continued: “The clinic’s doctor after the initial examination and ECG stated his condition has deteriorated and Ali Afshari was transferred to” Imam Khomeini” hospital in Uremia in unconscious condition with handcuffs and shackles.”
This source also added: “He was hospitalized until 8 pm and after the tests, doctors prescribed serum and with the officer’s request discharged him from hospital, but they asked Mahdi Bahrami, escort officer, due to Ali Afshari’s deterioration, not to treat him with violence.”
According to this prisoner at Uremia central prison, “Mr. Bahrami in reply to the doctor said; “they are animals and not get any harm, but, even if it happens, it is not a problem.” Then Ali Afshari argued and objected and in response, Mr. Bahrami put his firearm on Ali Afshari’s head and threatened him that “If you say one more word, I will kill you here.”
Finally, at 9pm Ali Afshari was transferred to prison’s clinic first and then to ward 12 of and re-joined the hunger strikers. Also the reports indicate that the conditions of Yousef Kakehmamy, Sirwan Nezhadi, Mohammad Abdullahi, Abdullah Hamoudi and Shirkoo Hassanpour are serious. The prisoners are not able to move because of physical weakness and low blood pressure due to the hunger strike, and all day stay at their beds.
Reportedly, some officials in Central Prison of Uremia have agreed with prisoners’ request of “separation of prisoners based on the offenses”, but because the representative of the Intelligence Ministry in the prison doesn’t agree, their demands are not met.
This is to say that, currently 24 political prisoners from ward 12 of Uremia prison are on hunger strike since 20th November, to protest at “dissolution of political prisoners’ ward” and “pressures from the Ministry of Intelligence on prisoners and their families”.