Transfer of Arjang Davoodi to the sub-hall of Hall 10, Ward 4 of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj
29-June-2021
Category: Prisoners
28-June-2021
Newsgroup: Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement: On Sunday, June 27, 2021, Arjang Davoodi was transferred to the sub-hall of Hall 10, ward 4 in Rajai Shahr prison. On May 24, 2021, after spending 5 years in Zahedan Prison, this 67-year-old political prisoner, who is serving his 18th year in prison, was transferred for the second time to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. In 2016, he had been deported from Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj to Zabol and from there to Zahedan Prison.
According to “Breathing in Confinement,” the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, on Sunday, June 27, 2021, after 34 days in quarantine ward of Rajai Shahr prison, the political prisoner Arjang Davoodi was transferred to the sub-Hall of the Hall 10, Ward 4.
Hall 10, Ward 4 is where the political prisoners are being held and its sub-hall is allocated to the Baha’i prisoners of conscience.
On May 24, 2021, Arjang Davoodi was initially transferred from Zahedan Prison to Greater Tehran Penitentiary. However, since the head of this prison refused to accept him, he was transferred to the quarantine ward of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj.
“Mr. Davoodi is suffering from pelvic fracture and is unable to walk without a cane. While in Zahedan prison, he broke his hip after falling from the stairs. However, being denied of medical care, he is still not fully recovered,” said an informed source to the reporter of the Breathing in Confinement.
It should be mentioned that Arjang Davoodi was deported to Zabol Prison in October 2016 and from there to Zahedan Prison on January 17, 2018.
On September 22, 2017, before being deported to Zahedan, this 67-year-old political prisoner was transferred to Amir Al-Momenin Hospital in Zabul for his illnesses including unstable blood pressure as well as high blood sugar.
Arjang Davoodi was arrested near the University of Tehran, in November 2003, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison, 74 lashes and 5 years of deprivation from social rights on charges including “acting against national security” as well as “insulting the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic.” His sentence was eventually reduced to 10 years in prison.
However, while in prison, several cases were opened against him, which ended up to increasing his sentence to a total of 20 years and eight months in prison.
During his 18 years of imprisonment, Mr Davoodi has been deported to various prisons in Iran. He was first deported from Evin Prison to Ahvaz, then to Bandar Abbas Central Prison, and afterward to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. Again, on Saturday, September 24, 2016, he was deported from Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj to Zabul Prison.
It should be noted that in July 2014, while in prison, Mr. Davoodi was sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj on charges of “supporting and effectively promoting the goals of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization.” However, in early 2016, in the Court of Appeals, his death sentence was reduced to five years in prison as well as deportation to Zabul Prison.
During his imprisonment, Arjang Davoodi has frequently gone on hunger strike to protest his detention conditions.
In addition, as per the order of Judge Haddad, Mr. Davoodi’s house was confiscated and sold by the judiciary. Recently, in an interview with Radio Farda, Arjang Davoodi’s wife said: “Besides being the place where we lived, our house was also a school where a cultural and educational complex named ‘Rays of Wisdom’ was located. A school in which, many students studied. Though it was eventually sealed.”
Mr. Davoodi holds a master’s degree in industrial management and is educated in the United States. He had returned to Iran after completing his education in the United States.
Arjang Davoodi has spent 18 years in prison without a single day off.