In his letter to 5 government officials
Baghi: I have no choice but to go on hunger strike
Nourooz: Emadeddin Baghi’s family – the detained head of the association for defending prisoners’ rights- could finally meet him on Monday after 45 days. Baghi in this visitation – that caused to his family’s protest because of rude behavior of the investigator – announced that since then he has written 5 letters to judicial chief Ayatollah Shahroodi, Tehran ministry of justice, Intelligence ministry, the head of the parliament and the judge of his case. In these letters, Baghi described the process of his case as well as violations of his rights and has protested against his (way of) detention and place of his detention. Baghi in his letters has declared that he is not looking for raising tumult and kicking up a dust but if these lawlessness and spiritual and physical tortures continues to practice, there will remain no choice for him except to go on a hunger strike. Nourooz correspondent in an interview with Baghi’s spouse, asked questions about the situation of Baghi in prison.
Mrs. Kamali! What was the conditions and state of your meeting with Mr. Baghi?
Baghi’s lawyer took troubles (or pains) and submitted a request to meet him face-to-face. My daughters could hug their father after 45 days but they had a lump in their throat. Mr. Baghi had become too slim. He entered the meeting room with two agents. We thought they will go with him into the saloon and then will stand aside but surprisingly they ordered all the family to sit around a table. Then one of them stood over Mr. Baghi and the other stood over the family. Mr. Baghi took offence deeply and said: “we are transparent like all stages of my life and your rude behavior is offensive”. Mr. Baghi ignored them with his family’s request. Despite, these two agents were standing over all of us but unfortunately, at the time when we wanted to exit the saloon, they directed my daughters and me to a room to investigate us physically.
Their action was questionable and it seems to me a bit dubious; if they investigated us physically before meeting Baghi, their action was justifiable, for example they tried to prevent us not to give a written report to Baghi from our side. But it has a different meaning when investigating at the time of leaving. It means that they are taking preventive measures or precautions not to transfer or pass on Baghi’s written reports out of prison. This is while Baghi has been denied pen, pencil and papers. The situation was so harsh that my junior daughter told me: “Mummy! I became sad with this meeting. See my father is under severe pressures and tortures. Regarding to their full surveillance and screening, they fear from the fact that my father gives us a report about his terrible situation in the prison”.
We requested the prison authorities’ response after this rude investigation. But the woman who directed us to the room, commanded to stand in queue. Her offensive and impolite behavior with Mr. Baghi’s mother irritated my daughters. She searched my daughter’s handbag and her body. She dressed a hand glove and asked my daughter to strip her undergarment off. My daughter could not believe and looked at me surprisingly then told the woman agent: “what did you say?” when she reiterated domineeringly, my daughter became so angry and burst into crying and shouting. My daughter intensely protested and said: “I do not permit you to do this. Have you captured a smuggler? What do you fear from to deny a pen, pencil and a sheet of paper to my father? You had stood over us and kept your eyes on our mouth? With the presence of two agents how could we hide something? I will never let you insult me. Why don’t you treat and behave people in their dignity? Isn’t it enough to put pressure on my father and irritate him?”
My daughter cried too much in a way that impressed the family. I could hardly make her calm and quiet; particularly, Mr. Baghi’s elder brother had recently a cerebral apoplexy. Nervousness and excitement is harmful for him. He could hardly visit his brother. He was worried about the situation of his brother so that feels calm and relief by seeing him. But when he saw his brother and being turned his nieces, his situation became so bad. We think God has bestowed him again to his family.
I’m so sorry of all these unkindness and cruelty for a 20 minute visit. I don not know why they do not consider his reverence. I wish someone respond to this question. Regarding to the fact that Baghi has been denied a small sheet of paper, pen and pencil, how he can deliver something to us? This rude investigation whether by intelligence ministry or the prison authorities has no meaning but to psychologically irritate and infuriate the family.
- How was Mr. baghi’s Mental and physical situation?
His mental situation was great. We thought we have to enliven him considering 45 days in solitary confinement. But it was surprising that he invigorated his family and this led us to ignore the unkindness allowed to him. He is being held in solitary confinement for 45 days. He was unaware and uninformed about the news outside the prison. Yesterday he found an old newspaper and informed about the Death of Gheysar Aminpor (Iranian poet). He was impressed. He said “ I wish I knew about this soon and sent a letter of condolence to his family”. He commemorated Gheysar before being imprisoned because he was supposed to compose poetry about “the right to life”. Mr. Baghi has been told to receive newspapers since tomorrow (Tuesday) but we do not know what kind of newspaper.
Another issue which rose at the visit was Baghi’s request for a pen and a peace of paper to write a letter to government officials. First, they replied the pen is forbidden. But after his protest to their illegal act, he received a peace of paper and a pen only to write a letter to officials. The pen and paper confiscated after he wrote the letter. Baghi has written 5 letters to some government officials including, judicial chief, Tehran ministry of justice, intelligence ministry, head of the parliament and the judge of his case. In these letters he described the process of his case as well as violations of his rights committed by officials and announced that if these lawlessness and mental and physical tortures goes on to practice, I will have no choice except to go on a hunger strike.
Could you give a book or something to Mr. Baghi during you visit?
No, unfortunately. We took with us some food and fruits and 3 books but the authorities prevented to deliver them to Baghi. Of course, if all the facilities be given to him, but he is still being held in a closed cell. We don’t know why they are so persistent to keep him in such a situation.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
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