By Yasmine S. Hakimian
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KURDISTAN, Iran – Amnesty International released a statement over their concern for more than 50 prisoners currently on a hunger strike. The prisoners are members of Iran’s long-time Kurdish minority group.  The prisoners are protesting against torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners, and are calling for an immediate end to executions.. The protesters are also seeking better prison conditions and independent inspection of Iranian prisons by national and international human rights organizations.

The hunger strike began on August 25, 2008. Of the more than 50 protestors, 15 are being held in Sanandaj, 33 at Oroumiye, three at Saqqez, and four in Tehran. Many of the prisoners are human rights, civil rights or women’s rights activists. Among the group are teachers, journalists, and students.

The trials of these prisoners took place behind closed doors, without a defense lawyer, and, on several occasions, the prisoner was not present. Currently eight prisoners, who are Kurdish intellectuals and activists, await death.  Many of the prisoners are being held without a charge or verdict against them. Many of the victims are accused of crimes they never committed. 

The prisoners claim their hunger strike is indefinite, yet there is little indication that the Iranian authorities will answer the hunger strikers’ demands. To date, the authorities have expressed no reactions to the hunger strikers or their demands.

Families of the idividuals are asking powerful international political organizations, human rights organizations, and supporters of freedom to help these prisoners. They hope to prevent the Iranian government from killing innocent people for their political views or religious beliefs.   

For more information, please see:

Payvand’s Iran News – Iran; Prisoners of Conscience and Death Row Prisoners – 12 September 2008

Amnesty International – Iran: Prisoners of Conscience and Death Row Prisoners on Hunger Strike – 11 September 2008

The Guardian – Tehran Targets Journalists – 11 September 2008

Kurdish Human Rights Project – Iran Prisoners Mount Hunger Strike – 10 September 3008

Iran Political Prisoners Association – Defend the Rights of Kurdish Political Prisoners Who Are on Hunger Strike in Iran – 9 September 2008

Kurd Net – Iran: Jailed Kurds Begin Hunger Strike – 25 August 2008