Free Hossein ronaghi maleki

Political prisoner Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, who is currently serving his 15-year sentence behind bars, has gone on hunger strike in protest of the authorities’ disregard for his serious medical needs. He has been barred from any medical furlough even though it is imperative that he receive the required medical attention for his deteriorating kidney disease.

Blogger and human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, in a letter to the Tehran prosecutor, made a strong stance against the widespread disregard of basic human rights in Iran and the abuse of political prisoners and their families.

Human Rights House of Iran has obtained the letter written by this activist who is on hunger strike. Following is the text of the letter.

Your Excellency, Mr. Jafari Dolatabadi,

Tehran’s Public and Revolutionary Courts Prosecutor,

With regards and greetings,

I Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, son of Seyed Ahmad, born on July 5, 1985, have sent you numerous letters pointing to issues such as my kidney disease, the manner of warrants and interrogations, the failure to provide transcripts of the appellate court ruling, the dire condition of political prisoners and ailing prisoners, the uncertain state of many political prisoners and the pressures imposed on them and their families, the arrests, solitary confinements and failure to adhere to the laws of the country.

Today due to the fact that I have not received any acknowledgement of my previous letters, I will continue my protest in a different manner.

Mr. Jafari Dolatabadi!

On the eve of the second year of my arrest (Decamber 13, 2009), I have embarked on a hunger strike starting on Friday December 10, 2011, which coincides with International Human Rights Day.

I have staged this hunger strike to protest all of the following:

-My being barred from obtaining medical furlough to receive treatment for my kidneys,

-Other political prisoners being deprived medical care such as Dr. Masoum Ferdis,

-The continued arrests and abuse of human rights activists such as Rojin Mohammadi,

-The miserable environment of harassment and pressures imposed on the families of political prisoners,

-In sympathy of labor activist Reza Shahabi’s strike protesting his unknown state behind bars and his dismal physical condition,

-The gross violations of human rights and the complete disregard of basic human rights for political prisoners.

With two years passing since my imprisonment and my heavy silence, today in consideration of not only my own dire physical condition, but also that of others such as Reza Shahabi and Masoum Ferdis among many more, I have to say that one must not stay silent about the atrocious conditions and lack of human rights of political prisoners, lest bitter events such as losing Hoda Saber and Mogsen Dogmechi be repeated.

In any case, my health has been dangerously affected due to my illness and the miserable prison environment. My only recourse at this juncture is the last resort that any political prisoner can take towards asking for basic human rights. I have gone on hunger strike to declare my strong objection to the aforementioned facts.

I would like to again inform you and others of the dismal situation of political prisoners and I am prepared to pay any price to do so, even if it means loosing my life.

With respect.

Seyed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki

November 12, 2011

Evin Prison, Ward 350

Tehran

Source: Rahana