Imprisoned Gonabadi Dervishes in Shiraz’s Adel Abad prison, Saleh Moradi and Kasra Nouri has began “dry” hunger strike (refusing water in addition to food) since Thursday morning 1st day of Farvardin 1392 (March 21, 2013), after being on “wet” hunger strike (taking water but not food) for 67 days.
According to Majzooban Noor, during a visit today morning on Farvardin 3 (March 23), imprisoned Dervish rights activists Saleh Moradi and Kasra Nouri told their families that they have lunched a dry hunger strike since 1st day of Farvardin 1392 (March 21, 2013).
Protesting illegal transfer of seven Gonabadi dervishes’s lawyers and Majzooban Noor website managers to solitary confinement of Evin prison and their illegal treatment in prison, two Gonabadi Dervishes embarked on a wet hunger strike beginning on 27th of Dey 1391 ( Jan 15, 2013) and after their 67 days long hunger strike they have gone on dry hunger strike while these prisoners of conscience appeared frail and too weak during the visit and their families are gravely concerned about their health and said that the Iranian authorities will be responsible for any risks to their lives as a result of their ongoing hunger strike. It is important to mention that, the prison infirmary doctor had already announced that, if the hunger strike continues any more, it will cause irreversible effects and serious injuries to the two Dervish prisoners.
Currently the Dervishes were transferred to Adel Abad prison infirmary but because of the Nowruz holidays and lack of resources and medical facilities they have received no medical attention yet.
Before the Nowruz celebration, these 2 Gonabadi Dervishes by sending a Nowruz greetings message had stated that: “By insisting on our legal demands and requests, once again we would announce that as long as our brothers in faith, Messrs. Hamid Reza Moradi, Mostafa Daneshjou, Amir Eslami, Farshid Yadollahi, Afshin Karampour and Reza Entesari are not transferred back from basement cells of the Section 209 of Evin prison to the general Ward 350 and if immediate treatment is not done for them, we will remain on their hunger strike.” But Iranian Judiciary officials have not yet reacted to Dervishes demands.
According to worried families of these Prisoners of Conscience their existing health conditions have been exacerbated due to their prolonged hunger strike and their health has deteriorated. The condition of them grows more and more dire, worse than before. Now they are suffering with vision loss, kidney failure, bowel adhesion in addition to weakness, weight loss and dizziness and the appearance of these symptoms are warning signs of their dire health condition and indicate that they are facing life-threatening health complications!
Based on received reports, being in this situation can lead to permanent loss of vision and even blindness.
It should be reminded that, on 15th of Bahman 1391(Feb 3, 2013) despite the poor physical conditions of two dervishes, the security forces and prison authorities forced them to sign a letter stating that they have good physical health and they do not need any medical treatment and health care!
Saleh Moradi and Kasra Nouri are currently behind bars for more than 19 months in Shiraz’s Adel Abad prisonin, on charges of “Propaganda against the regime”, “Acting against national security”, “Deviant group (Majzooban Noor) membership” and “Interviews with foreign media, Radio Farda”, but they have not yet received a definitive sentence till now. We note in this regard that although they have been in detention more than the serving a period of time which would equate to their sentence, therefore now their detention surely is unlawful.