Transfer of Mohammad Benazadeh Amirkhizi and Payam Shakiba to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj; their release is sabotaged by the Ministry of Intelligence
21-December-2020
Category: Prisoners
Breathing in Confinement: October 19, 2020, in protest against being forced to wear prison uniforms and shackles, Mohammad Amirkhizi, Payam Shakiba, and Majid Asadi, three political prisoners in Evin Prison, refused to appear in the court. So the trial was held in the presence of their lawyers in Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mazlumi.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, the three political prisoners, Mohammad Amirkhizi, Payam Shakiba and Majid Asadi, had fully served their sentences and were about to be released. On the day of their release however, they faced a new case, filed against them by the Ministry of Intelligence. And on October 19, they were supposed to appear the trial, in Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Mazlumi. But they were not transferred to the court, as they refused to wear prison costumes and shackles.
It is noteworthy that, the order for them to be transferred in prison costume and shackles, had been issued by the head of prison, Mr. Mohammadi.
“This morning, the three political prisoners were supposed to appear in the court. But as they refused to wear prison uniforms as well as handcuffs and shackles, the prison authorities didn’t transfer them to the court. However, their lawyers, Mr. Mostafa Nili and Mr. Hossein Taj, presenting a defense bill, attended the trial and defended their clients,” an informed source told the Breathing in Confinement’s reporter. ” Their previous trial on July 18, 2020 also, had been canceled for the same reason,” the source added.
It needs to be mentioned that according to the report by ” Breathing in Confinement “, on July 18, 2020, the release orders had been issued for Payam Shakiba, Mohammad Amirkhizi and Majid Asadi. The Ministry of Intelligence however, opened a new case against them on charges of “propaganda against the system”, and therefore, prevented their release. On July 20, 2020, to be charged in connection with this case, the three political prisoners were transferred to Evin Court, where a bail of 300 million Tomans was issued for them and then they were returned back to the prison. And a day later, on July 21, to be interrogated, they were transferred to solitary confinement in Evin’s Ward 240, where they were held for 36 days. They then transferred to Hall 3 of Ward 4 in Evin Prison.
“Concurrently with Covid-19 outbreak in prison, the condition of Ward 4 is very poor. And the prison officials don’t provide any relevant facilities. They even refuse to disinfect the prison, said an informed source to Breathing in Confinement’s reporter. “The prisoners have to buy the required items such as face masks and sanitizers, from the prison store, out of their pockets. As the price of one face mask is 4,500 tomans, each prisoner has to pay 4,500 tomans a day just to get a face mask,” he continued.