Imprisoned Journalist in IRGC-Operated Ward
Imprisoned journalist Amir Ali Allamehzadeh
More than two months since the detention of imprisoned journalist Amir Ali Allamehzadeh, a source close to his family told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that his case has been assigned to a new investigative judge and transferred to Evin Prison Court.
The source, one of Allamehzadeh’s close friends, told the Campaign that since his arrest on 18 September 2011, “Amir Ali Allamehzadeh, the former International Desk Editor of ILNA (Iranian labour News Agency) … has been detained under illegal conditions and inhumane pressure in solitary confinement inside IRGC’s Ward 2-A at Evin Prison.”
“While the two-month time limit for his illegal ‘temporary detention’ is up … his case was transferred from Branch 14 of the Government Employees and Media Court to Branch 2 of Shahid Moghaddas Court located inside Evin Prison.” He also added:
“During his two-month temporary detention, Judge Beigi issued three visitation orders for Mr. Allamehzadeh’s family…. Each time, after initial resistance, the forces only allowed the visitation in a location other than the visitation hall, under special circumstances, in front of IRGC’s closed circuit television cameras, and on the condition that his case, location, and detention circumstances are not discussed. During all visits, Mr. Allamehzadeh’s psychological and physical condition has been alarming; he was not allowed to speak at all about the reasons and conditions of his detention. He told his family that he is alone, indicating that he is inside a solitary cell.”
“It is clear that the security forces and his interrogators wish to continue his illegal detention and the inhumane psychological and physical pressure on him,” stated the source adding that, “They have transferred the case to Evin Prison Court so that they can fully influence and control the investigative judge assigned to the case.”
“Security and judicial authorities have so far offered no explanations about Mr. Allamehzadeh’s charges,” he continued.
Allamehzadeh has not had access to his lawyer since his arrest. Ward 2-A of Evin Prison is illegally operated by the IRGC and the Iranian Prisons Organization has no access to prisoners in the ward. Suspects are kept in solitary or 2-3 person cells inside the ward and are deprived of any contact with the outside world. There have been multiple reports of severe physical and psychological torture of prisoners of conscience for extracting false confessions inside this ward.
