Breathing in Confinement

News

There is no way but the streets; The imprisoned student, Mohammad Khani, supports the Iranian uprisings

25-September-2022

Category: protesters

September 24, 2022

News group: Protests –

Breathing in Confinement: Mohammad Khani, imprisoned PhD student at Allameh Tabatabaei University, translator and social researcher, in a letter condemned the killing of Mahsa Amini and supported the uprisings all over Iran. Khani was arrested on June 22, 2022 and transferred to Evin prison to serve his sentence.

 

According to “Breathing in Confinement”, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Mohammad Khani, the student imprisoned in Evin prison, supported the protests against the killing of Mahsa Amini. Referring to the violation of freedom of expression and social freedoms by the authorities of the Islamic Republic, Khani  wrote: “When young people, school and university students are beaten and arrested for protesting against the pervasive oppression; There is no choice but the street”!

 

The full text of Mohammad Khani’s letter is as follows:

“People from workers and retirees to nurses and teachers very well know when social freedoms such as freedom of speech and freedom of choosing clothes, or the right to organize gatherings, strikes and protests, are trampled;

When workers’ protest to low wages or arrears are suppressed;

When women are slaughtered for hijab;

When pensioners and teachers are imprisoned for protesting inequality and injustice;

When neither peddlers nor farmers are safe;

When neither Kurds nor Turks, nor Lor nor Baluch are safe!

When young people, school and university students are beaten and arrested for protesting the widespread oppression;

There is no choice but the street!

 

I salute you in the streets, factories and universities!

I salute you in Mahabad, Amol, Sari, Abdul Abad, Islamshahr, Saqqez, Tabriz, Izeh and Khuzestan. I salute you in Isfahan, Ilam, Saveh and Shahryar.

 

I, Mohammad Khani, a political prisoner in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, condemning the murder of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, admire the young protesters who, with their determination, herald a bright, free, and just tomorrow.

I admire you all.

 

24 /09/2022

Evin Prison

 

On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Mohammad Khani, a doctoral student at Allameh Tabatabai University, a translator and social researcher, was arrested to serve his sentence and transferred to Evin Prison. He had previously been sentenced to four years in prison (three and a half years applicable), two years of ban from social and political activities, six months of mandatory work with mentally disabled children, and two years of confiscation of all his seized belonging.

 

He had previously been sentenced to four years in prison (three and a half years applicable), two years of ban from social and political activities, six months of mandatory work with mentally disabled children, and two years of confiscation of all his seized belonging, on charges of “conspiracy to disrupt national security and propaganda activities against the regime.”

 

The preliminary trial of Mohammad Khani was held on December 20, 2020, in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Afshari.

 

On December 27, 2020, Mr. Khani’s lawyer was notified of his conviction. According to this sentence, Mohammad Khani was sentenced to four years in prison (three and a half years applicable), two years of ban from social and political activities, six months of mandatory work with mentally disabled children, and two years of confiscation of all his seized belonging. The Court of Appeals upheld the verdict on July 3, 2021.

 

It is noteworthy that Mohammad Khani, a PhD student in social welfare policy at Allameh University, is a researcher in the field of welfare and government policies, and has written and translated many relevant books and articles. “Social Theory in the Twentieth Century by Patrick Baret” published by “Rokhdad-e New,” and “Culture and Planning by Simone Abram” published by “Tisa” are examples of books translated by Mr Khani.

 

According to “Breathing in Confinement”, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, in order to serve his sentence, Mohammad Khani, a doctoral student at Allameh Tabatabaei University, a translator and a social researcher, was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison. He had previously been sentenced to four years in prison (three and a half years applicable), two years of ban from social and political activities, six months of mandatory work with mentally disabled children, and two years of confiscation of all his seized belonging, on charges of “conspiracy to disrupt national security and propaganda activities against the regime.”

 

“Mohammad Khani suffers from autoimmune disease of lupus and prison condition endangers his health,” an informed source told the reporter of Breathing in Confinement.  The source added: “The sentence was carried out while the Forensic Medicine Department was yet to release its opinion on Mr. Khani’s overall condition.”

 

In addition, regarding Mr. Khani’s continuing education and completing his doctoral course, the source said: ‌”Mr. Khani was completing his doctoral dissertation and presented his first thesis defense session at Allameh Tabatabai University yesterday. However, after his arrest, he has practically denied the right to continue his studies and complete his doctoral dissertation.”

 

On October 1, 2020, at the time of Mr. Khani’s arrest, the agents searched his home and confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his cellphone, laptop, external hard drive, two internal computer hard drives, several volumes of books, all of which had been published inside the country, a large number of research articles and scientific books on compact discs, master’s academic booklets, as well as family photographs and his diaries.  According to the verdict, all of the above-mentioned items will remain in the custody of security forces for two years.

 

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Prisoners