Two political prisoners, Ramin Hussein Panahi and his brother Afshin Hossein Panahi both held at in Sanandaj Central Prison, went on hunger strike in protest to the unfair trial of Ramin after writing an official letter to the authorities four days ago.
“Two Kurdish political prisoners have been on hunger strike since January 27, following a death sentence for Ramin Hussein Panahi by the Revolutionary Court of Sanandaj (Branch 1) on charges of membership in the Komala Party. They began a hunger strike in support of their demands.” An informed source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN.)
According to the source, on Tuesday, January 30, the two political prisoners informed their family in a telephone call that prison authorities and the Intelligence Ministry representative have met them in jail and asked them to stop their hunger strike. But these two political prisoners have explicitly stated at the meeting that they will not stop hunger strike despite being threatened and tortured.
“Mohammad Hussein Panahi, the old father of the two political prisoners, has also been on hunger strike since three days ago in his house in, Gaddafi village of Dehgolan,” the source said.
Ramin Hussein Panahi’s lawyer had previously told KHRN that the Revolutionary Court (Branch 1) in Sanandaj, chaired by Judge Saeedi, had sentenced the political prisoner to death on charges of membership in the Komala Party, and the verdict was formally served on him on Jan 25.
On Friday, June 22, Ramin was wounded and arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Sanandaj. The political prisoner was then transferred to one of IRGC Intelligence Detention Centres in Sanandaj. He was transferred to Sanandaj central Prison on January 09 after 200 days.
According to the family of this political prisoner, as well as his statements in the court, Ramin’s health has deteriorated due to torture and medical negligence during his time in solitary confinement. As a result, he is now suffering from kidney failure and amnesia. He is in poor physical health and he has not been offered any medical treatment in prison despite suffering from persistent pain due to kidney problems.
It is worth noting that Ramin’s brother known as Afshin Hussein Panahi, who has a background in cooperation with environmental NGO’s, was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment by the Revolutionary Court on charges of holding a Nowruz ceremony and supporting the Kurdish parties. He is now in the central prison of Sanandaj. Zubair Hussein Panahi (Ramin’s cousin) has been also sentenced to six years in prison while Ahmad Amin Panah (the family’s son-in-law) was sentenced to five years in prison.
