KURDISH HUNGER STRIKE IN IRANIAN PRISON ON 30TH DAY

The hunger strike of Kurdish political prisoners in the Urmia central prison continues on its 30th day as Iranian officials continue responding to the protest with physical and psychological torture and

threat of execution.

The hunger strike by 29 Kurdish political prisoners was launched in protest against the Iranian regime's decision to transfer criminal prisoners to the political prisoners' ward in the central Urmia prison.

The Iranian regime is infamous for its inhumane treatment of political prisoners and uses the deliberate mixing of political and criminal prisoners to humiliate the political prisoners and organise verbal and physical attacks on them by the criminal prisoners.

Information obtained from the prison reveals that the Iranian intelligence service threatened the prisoners on strike with execution or transfer to other prisons south of the country since their protest began.

In the meantime, the health of the political prisoners is reported to be deteriorating as the hunger strike continues.

There have been demonstrations in seven countries around the world including the Kurdistan Regional Government, in support of the hunger strikers but media attention has been limited.

The Kurdistan Communities' Union (KCK) Executive Council has released a statement calling the Iranian regime to accept the demands of the prisoners and resolve the Kurdish question in Iran through dialogue and peaceful negotiations. They also called on the Kurdish people and democratic groups around the world to be in active solidarity with the Kurdish political prisoners on hunger strike.

Similar to Turkey, Kurdish rights are suppressed in Iran and the right to self -determination is denied. Political activism for Kurdish rights is met with brutal suppression, execution and life-imprisonment in many cases.

The names of some of the prisoners participating in the hunger strike are: Ali, Wali and Jafar Afshari (brothers), Sherko Hassan Pur, Mohammad Abdullah, Xızır Rasuli Rad, Saman Nasim, Amir Maladoost, Sirwan Najawi, Jafar Mizayi, Ibrahim Resapur, Abdullah Efxeri, Abdurhaman Sıleman, Ebudllah Omeri, Seyd Sami Hıseni, Ebdulla Hemudi, Ehmed Temuyi, Osman Mıstefa Pur, Behroz Alxani, Mıstefa Rehman, Yusıf Kakememi, Seyd Cemal Mıhemedi, Eli Reza Resuli, Şoreş, Hebib Efşari and Mıstefa Dawudi.