Bahareh Hedayat’s Physical Condition Deteriorating

Persian2English/2010-12-28 - Bahareh Hedayat, incarcerated student activist who started a hunger strike a week ago protesting the banning of her visitation rights, was transferred to the infirmary at Evin prison.

Reports received by Kaleme from Evin prison indicate that in the past few days, as a result of her deteriorating physical condition, Bahareh Hedayat has been transferred to the infirmary at Evin on numerous occasions. Given that political prisoners are currently banned from telephone calls and Hedayat herself has no visitation rights, there is no credible and confirmed news about her physical condition. It is worth mentioning that according to her husband, Hedayat is suffering from gallstones [which can be life threatening] and according to the prison doctors she needs to be operated on.

Last week the families of Bahareh Hedayat and Mahdieh Golroo arrived at Evin prison only to find out that both of these student activists have been deprived of visitation rights.

According to their cell mates, prison officials have not provided any reason for depriving these two political prisoners of visitation rights. It looks as though their recent statements on the occasion of Student Day (16 Azar) receiving much attention by students both inside and outside of Iran may be the reason for this latest move by prison officials. Prison officials have announced that both Bahareh Hedayat and Mahdieh Golroo will be deprived of visitation rights until further notice.

The families of these two student activists approached the prosecutors office inquiring about their condition after an unsuccessful attempt to visit with them in prison. The officials at the prosecutor’s office however did not provide them with any clear answers to their questions.

Bahareh Hedayat and Mahdieh Golroo have been incarcerated for a year and to date have not been granted leave of absence from prison. They have also been deprived of face to face visitation with their families for a long time.