Bahman has Lost 20 Kilos

Prominent Iranian journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amouei was arrested in his house on June 20 midnight after security officers carried out a night raid on his house. He continues to be held in solitary confinement.  The family of this journalist is seriously concerned about his physical and psychological condition.

Noting his deepest concerns about his brother’s unknown fate, Ahmadi-Amouei’s brother told Rooz, “So far we have visited Bahman only once, three weeks ago. It happened in the presence of Bahman’s interrogator, who had a tape-recorder on the table and recorded all our conversation.” 

He added, “Unfortunately Bahman could not speak about the charge or charges against him.  All we know is that he continues to be kept in solitary confenement, and that his interrogation is not over.” 

Criticizing the current trend, this journalist’s brother said, “What is it that they want to bring out of my brother that his interrogation has not ended even after 65 days of imprisonment, and continues to keep him in solitary confinement?  Bahman is a journalist who did nothing but writing.  All his activities and work were transparent and clear.  He had nothing hidden that they would want to extract from him by putting him under pressure.”

According to Bahman’s brother, the imprisoned journalist told him during a short telephone conversation two weeks ago was planned to be sent to the Revolutionary Court within the next two or three days, but in reality nothing has happened in the last two weeks.  Revolutionary Court officials have confirmed that the case has not yet been sent to them.

This journalist’s brother said, “When we visited Bahman in Evin prison three weeks ago, he had lost an extreme amount of weight, between 15 to 20 kilos, and that is of serious concern to us.  What has happened to my brother during this time to make him suddenly lose 20 kilos?”

Bahman Ahmadi Amouei is a journalist and political analyst and Zhila Bani-Yaghoub’s wife.  The couple was arrested on June 20 at their home.  Zhila Bani-Yaghoub is the winner of the 2008 Courage in Journalism prize, awarded by the Women’s Media Foundation.  She also runs the Iranian Women Society’s website, dedicated to women’s rights issues in Iran, who was released from prison a few days ago on bail.