Norouz: Emadeddin Baghi, the detained head of the Association for Defending Prisoners Rights is prohibited from having visitors. This is while Baghi in his last family visit said that he had written letters to five officials regarding his interrogations and file and had declared that in case of the continuation of the current trend, he will have no other choice but to go on a hunger strike. On Monday, Fatemeh Kamali, Baghi’s wife, talked about her visit to the prison and receiving the news about the prohibition on Baghi having visitors.
Mrs. Kamali, today when you went to visit Mr. Baghi in prison, how were you treated and how did you become aware of his visitor prohibition?
After the improper encounter that we had last time and because of the extreme concern the family had regarding Baghi’s health, despite the fact that I had neither the inclination for a visit held in a meeting hall nor the necessary physical capability for it, I decided to go for the meeting. Along with my eldest, and Baghi’s mother and sister, we went for the visit. Our names were written and after climbing about 50 steps we reached the floor for the meeting. This was while I had relayed my knee problems via our respected lawyer to the first branch of the security court and even had a doctor’s note to give to the court.
Unfortunately in the meeting hall we heard and saw nothing but the suffering of the issues and problems visitors have. Three times, each time for about 20 minutes, the curtains went up and down and they did not bring Baghi. After questioning the person in charge about why we had been kept waiting, he said, “go down, Baghi has been prohibited form having visitors.” He said, “because of the problems of the previous meeting, I talked with the official in charge of the first security branch and he said not to allow a visit and refer them to the first branch.” When we asked why, they said “a complaint has been taken to the court from here and has been signed. As a result your visits have been halted.
We were astonished. In the improper encounter that we faced in the last meeting, one of the security officials repeatedly told Baghi’s sister: “Do not lodge a complaint against us. See! We have accompanied you up to here (meaning the meeting hall) and from here on [is in the hands] of prison officials and they are the one ones who behave this way.” And we did not lodge a complaint since we did not know an authority who could deal with the complaint in a just manner but, before us, the people who asked us not to complain against them lodge a complaint against us. What can be done about such a state of being wronged, such injustice. We did not expect them to speak affably to us, but complaint and creation of a file for Baghi’s daughters is really beyond the pale. The prohibition against visits for Baghi reminds me of the proverb that whoever reaches the judge earlier comes back satisfied. It is interesting that during the period of our bodily search and ill treatment only four or five people were present and after that by calling a few baton-wielding soldiers we were accompanied to the outside of prison by them. Now how is it that it said that the complaint that has been lodged has many signatures? Please somebody tell us to whom we should complain? I would like to know the nature of my husband’s crime that, now because of his children’s visit, a case is made against them as well. Is the fact that a girl did not allow her body to be searched in an obscene manner and raised her voice in protest against her being wronged a crime?
We express our deepest concern about Mr. Baghi health and in the light of the fact that he has become very weak and thin and in the previous meeting hinted at the use of white torture against him, we see prohibition against visitors as nothing but preventing information relay to his family. Mr Baghi himself has never been in favor of hunger strike. What path has been placed in front of him that he sees such an evident violation of his beliefs as the only possible path. Given this situation of lack of news, from our point of view, officials are responsible for anything that happens to him since we do not consider appropriate all the mental pressures placed on a prisoner and his family as well as lack of attention exhibited by officials to whom Baghi has written letters and those others that have not been addressed but know of the issue. Although we have always found refuge in God and this is the most worthy thing to do, it is not appropriate in an Islamic country to take constant refuge in God because of governmental institutions.
Have officials responded so far to Mr. Baghi’s letter?
So far there has been no response to his letter as he continues to be in a close cell and under interrogation.
Source: Norouz.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
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