Following perseverance and determination, after 64 days of hunger strike by the prominent political prisoner, Jafar Azimzadeh, and in line with an international wave of support together with solidarity of hundreds of other political prisoners with Jafar, the Iranian criminal regime surrendered to the will of determination and was forced to free Mr. Azimzadeh.
Iranian political prisoner, Jafar Azimzadeh after release from the notorious Evin Prison
About 8 o’clock PM local time Tehran (1530 GMT) today, Thursday, June 30, 2016 the mullahs’ regime was forced to finally back down and temporarily free this firm and unwavering political prisoner after 64 days of hunger strike, promising to reevaluate his case in a fair trial.
Following the order to release this political prisoner, Jafar decided to victoriously end his 64-day hunger strike.
During past two months a wave of activities both inside and outside Iran went underway with dozens of other political prisoners expressing solidarity with him by going on hunger strike themselves.
Many people, including friends, relatives and human rights activists demonstrated called for the freedom of this political prisoner. Numerous rallies took place in front of the mullahs’ parliament, the office of the president and outside the Sina Hospital, where Jafar was being treated. Social media have been reporting his condition on the daily basis.
Jafar Azimzadeh, a labor rights’ activist and a laborer himself was jailed for defending the rights of workers in Iran about 9 months ago and was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He went on hunger strike 64 days ago where his health condition deteriorated to the point that doctors said he is fast reaching the point of no return on his condition.
Jafar release created a wave of joy and jubilations among his family and friends. Dozens of other political prisoners who joined Jafar in hunger strike celebrated his release tantamount to their own victory.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran in a statement issued on Wednesday called for the immediate release of Jafar. The statement titled:
Iran: workers, teachers protest in support of political prisoner Jafar Azimzadeh
Said: Hundreds of workers, teachers and youths rallied outside the office of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on the morning of Wednesday, June 29, in support of political prisoner Jafar Azimzadeh who marked his 62nd day on hunger strike on this day. The protesters in this rally demanded urgent action to save Azimzadeh’s life.
Gathering from different cities across Iran, protesters were seen chanting, “Workers don’t belong in prison. Workers’ wages is not lashing,” “Jailed workers must be freed,” “Political prisoners must be freed,” “62 days have passed and Jafar remains in jail,” “Plunderers are free, workers are in jail.” The repressive intelligence agents and police prevented anyone from taking any video footage or still images of the rally.
The day prior to this gathering Rasoul Baddaghi, Ismaeel Abdi and Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, a number of jailed teachers who have recently been released, were joined by 180 other teachers and workers issuing a statement announcing a hunger strike from Thursday, June 30, to Saturday, July 2 in support of Azimzadeh.
Moreover, Mr. Ali Moezi and a number of other political prisoners in the prisons of Evin and Gohardasht underscored the repressive regime and its so-called judiciary are responsible for Azimzadeh’s health and well-being, adding they, too, will be on hunger strike starting Tuesday, June 28.
Azimzadeh has gone unconscious many times in the past few days. Despite his conditions, Hajilou, the regime’s representative in the public prosecutor’s office has said they will do nothing in the case of Azidzadeh losing his life.
Azimzadeh has been on hunger strike protesting the “violation of the fundamental rights of teachers and workers,” “their detention and prosecution under bogus reasons” and raising charges such as “measures against security” against labor activists and teachers.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
June 29, 2016
