August 17, 2010
Rooz Online reporter Saman Rasoulpour conducted an interview with Soran Rash, the son of political prisoner Rahim Rash. He talked of his father’s physical condition. Rahim Rash’s hunger strike, that he launched to protest against torture and his detention, has reached its 26th day. Rahim Rash is in critical condition. Soran Rash stated, ”My father was tortured in Orumiyeh detention centre [in northwestern Iran] and will continue his strike despite the fact that he has lost a lot of weight and cannot walk on his own.”
English translation of the interview provided by Siavosh Jalili for Persian2English
Rooz Online: Mr. Rash, what is the lastest news on your father’s condition? Is he still on hunger strike?
Soran Rashi (SR): On Sunday, our family visited my father. He said that he is continuing his hunger strike. It has now been 26 days.
Rooz: Where did the visit take place? How was your father’s physical state?
SR: A few days prior to our visit, my father was transferred from the IRGC Orumiyeh prison to the Mahabad General prison. The transfer took place following the deterioration of my father’s health. Our family visited my father after the transfer. He has lost a lot of weight and is in critical condition. He was taken to the prison clinic several times and he was connected to serums. My father cannot stand on his feet and he walks with the help of others.
Rooz: Mr. Rash, what did your father say about his charges against him and the treatment he received from security officials?
SR: They have only orally stated the charges against my father which are ”acting againt national security” and “enmity against god”. My dad said that he was tortured and abused in the Orumiyeh detention centre.
Rooz: Your father was tortured while on hunger strike?
SR: Yes! My father went on hunger strike a day after he was arrested and he continues to be on strike to this day. My father was subjected to torture in the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh. My father says that one of the reasons he continues his hunger strike is because of the tortures and abuses inflicted on him. We, however, do not know the details of the acts of torture.
Rooz: Has a trial date been set? Is it possible that he will be freed before the trial?
SR: My father did not accept any of the charges against him. Three others were arrested from our village at the same time as my father. These three people are currently detained in the security and intelligence detention centre in Orumiyeh. My father stated that there is a high chance that he his trial will not take place until the other three are transferred to the Mahabad detention centre as well.
Rooz: Do they all face the same charges?
SR: My father and the three others were arrested on the same night and they were transferred to the Mahabad detention centre. That is why we think that my dad will probably be tried when the other three are also transferred to Mahabad. The reason my father was transferred is because he launched a hunger strike. Of course, we do not see any connection between my father’s condition and them.
Rooz: Given the dire state Mr. Rash is in, has your family asked him to end his strike?
SR: Prison officials as well as my mother and brother have asked him to end his strike. Initially, my father went on strike to protest his detention, however, after he was mistreated in the detention centre, he is more determined to continue with his strike.
Rooz: Even though his physical condition has deteriorated gravely?
SR: Yes. My father was also arrested in 1997 when he was taken to Saqez prison. That time, rarely anyone believed that he would be able to last a 36-day hunger strike. Eventually my father was brought home on a stretcher. The doctor [on the case] said that if my father had continued his hunger strike, he would have only survived a few more days. The news did not receive media coverage back then because unlike today, the Internet and other forms of media were not pervasive. Despite all this, my father was exonerated and freed. This time as well, my father insists to continue his hunger strike until he is released.
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