Sepideh Gholyian who was arrested while supporting the strike of sugar cane workers of Haft Tapeh in Khuzestan province, Iran. While in prison, she has gone on a hunger strike in protest to “injustices and disrespect” against her and her parents, as well as constant transfers to different prisons. She has pledged to continue her hunger strike until her trial.
Gholyian decided to go on hunger strike after an argument with authorities of Gharchak prison for disrespecting her parents.
Gholyian explains her reasoning for her strike:
A hunger strike is not my choice. But in prison, this is the only prisoner’s tool to break the silence, albeit at a limited level. So I am starting the hunger strike to protest against the increasing pressures on political prisoners.
The second issue is the the horrific situation of the Qarchak prison in Varamin, Tehran province. Nonstop humiliation by the prison guards, lack of security, regularly cutting off water, and deprivation of minimum sanitation are only a fraction of the catastrophic situation in the prison. What was done to Neda Naji and Atefeh Rangriz who are detained for attending May Day protest, and with other detainees including Yasmine Aryie, Saba Kord Afshari, Monireh Arabshahi, are the reasons for my protest.
Depriving me from the right to visit my family and the imposition of more suffering on my elderly parents – although the authorities think of deprivation as their undeniable right – seem insignificant compare to what my family and I have endured since my arrest in January. [Translated from Farsi]
Sepideh Gholiyan explains why she has started the hunger strike and has shown solidarity with Sanaz Allahyari and Amirhosein Mohamadi who have been on hunger strike since July 4, 2019 in protest to denial of their bail and preventing Sanaz’s access to medical care. She says, “The message of the hunger strike is our co-ordination and co-operation against the injustices that prisoners and their families are subjected to”[Translated from Farsi]
Sepideh is the voice of freedom-seeking Qarchak detainees and other political prisoners. She is the passionate and courageous voice that touches everyone’s heart. She has moved many and even turned the prison into a place of solidarity and protest for freedom and dignity.
Recently, Sepideh started a sit-in protest in front of the prison’s office director to object the assault of Neda Naji. Now that Sepideh is on hunger strike, Neda has boycotted the use of visitation time until the prison authorities separate political prisoners from the rest – this is an established law that separates prisoners on the bases of their charges.
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers (Free Them Now) calls on everyone to support Sepideh Gholyian and her protest. Sepideh represents the voices and demands of jailed workers and political prisoners in Iran!
July 27, 2019
Campaign to Free Jailed Workers (Free Them Now)
Shahla Daneshfar