Posted: 11/10/2015 3:01 pm EST Updated: 11/10/2015 3:59 pm EST
On October 22nd 2015, the Huffington Post published an article written by Hejrat Moezi, the daughter of Iranian political prisoner Ali Moezi, pleading for her father’s life. Recently, movements.org has learned that Ali Moezi has been transferred to Evin prison where the Iranian government is holding him in isolation, escalating international concerns about his safety.
According to a statement released by ‘Activists for Human Rights and Democracy in Iran’, Ali Moezi was suddenly relocated from the Central Prison of Karaj to Evin Prison on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Currently, he is being held in isolation. The reason for his sudden transfer is unknown and no information has been released as to which ward of Evin Prison he will be sent next.
Ali Moezi, is an ailing a political prisoner. He suffers from cancer, kidney disease and several other afflictions. Arrested while undergoing cancer treatment, he has since been denied access to medical care by the Iranian judiciary.
Most recently, Moezi was sentenced for his participation in the funeral ceremony of Mohsen Dogmechi, a fellow political prisoner who was deceased while behind bars. In his present term, Moezi has spent over 4 years in prison, during which he has been put in solitary confinement, is routinely beaten and has suffered psychological and physical tortured at the hands of government officials belonging to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.
There is reason to believe Moezi faces imminent threat. In her public plea, Moezi’s daughter detailed her father’s persistent harassment and the slew of charges being brought against him:
“Over the last seven years, my father has been charged not once, but four times. Each time, he has refused his participation in the trials citing their lack of legitimacy and due process. Each time, henchmen beat him and forced him to court. In May 2015, a flock of thugs beat him so hard against iron railing that his forehead split. Disregarding the fact that he was near the end of his term, they sentenced him to an additional year of prison. The charges are ongoing. In September 2015, they indicted him for sending a message to be read on his behalf outside prison to commemorate the loss of 52 lives at the hands of the government two years prior. Due to my father’s resistance and bravery, these courts will likely still arbitrarily prolong his sentence.”
In keeping with her concern, we urge the Iranian government to remove Moezi from isolation and respect due process in handling all aspects of his case. It is incumbent upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Iran’s special rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed and other international authorities to pressure Iran’s compliance in upholding the minimum standards of dignity and respect for human life.
Sara Hassani
PhD Student and Fellow in Politics
