Imprisoned Journalist Transferred to Solitary Confinement

Persian2English – Following the incident a few days ago when a prison official severely beat up Masoud Bastani, the imprisoned journalist was transferred to solitary confinement on the orders of the Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ prison warden.

Prior to this incident, Masoud Bastani had been hospitalized in Shahid Madani hospital in the city of Karaj and returned to prison in the middle of the night. Physicians warned that Masoud Bastani had suffered a brain hemorrhage resulting from his previous beatings by a soldier. When he returned to prison the warden gave orders that Masoud Bastani be transferred to solitary confinement.

On Tuesday Masoud Bastani was summoned to the prison court along with another political prisoner, Isa Saharkhiz, who witnessed the attack on Masoud Bastani. A formal complaint on the incident was launched so they had thought their summon to the court was regarding their complaint. However, at the court they were reprimanded and charged with “Disturbing public order” and “Causing conflict and insulting the prison warden”.

Recently 20 prisoners in Rajai Shahr prison have written a formal complaint about the illegal and inhumane conduct of Rajai Shahr prison officials. They have sent their written grievances to higher authorities and are now awaiting a reply. So far no response or acknowledgement has been given regarding this issue.

(Translation by Laleh Irani. Edited by Persian2English)

Persian2English editor’s note: In the wake of the assault and battery Masoud Bastani suffered during the last prison visit he had with his family, his wife Mahsa Amrabadi said that she would file a lawsuit against the solider that was responsible for the assault.