Worrisome Report about Panahi’s Condition in Prison

Zahra Rahnavard called for the release of political prisoners and individuals detained during protests against the election results, referring to the prisoners as noble people who do not want anything but respect and greatness for themselves and their nation.  Manwhile, Jafar Panahi’s wife send a report detailing the condition of the prominent filmmaker and revealed that he has been transferred to a smaller prison cell.

In an article published on the website Kalame, Mrs. Rahnavard identified freedom, democracy and the rule of law as the most significant demands of the Iranian society in the past century and called for the release of political prisoners in spring.  

Commenting about the unknown and ordinary political prisoners arrested in the aftermath of the June 12 election coup, Mrs. Rahnavard announced, “They form the body of the nation.  They are neither the first rifle-pit, nor a rifle-pit the occupation of which should make some happy, nor a rifle-pit behind which politicians are hiding.”  

Last week, a group of ordinary political prisoners held at Evin Prison released an open letter protesting their continued detention, stating, “We were simple protesters against the election results, but no media wrote a word about us.  Who knows us?  We were simple people from the streets who, according to our interrogators, who call themselves experts, are now ‘bubbles on the water and a rifle-pit for the regime’s opponents aiming for the government.’  We were rifle-pits which, in the words of the interrogators, are being conquered one by one.”  

The majority of these prisoners, who have received heavy sentences, were not temporarily released for the new year holidays, although a number of prominent political prisoners were temporarily released for the holidays after posting heavy bail.  

Report from Jafar Panahi’s Wife

Jafar Panahi’s wife, Tahere Saeedi, who was allowed to visit her husband, released a report detailing the latest condition of the prominent filmmaker.  The report, obtained by Rooz, states, “Eventually, after a month, we were able to visit Jafar.  I found him very pale, skinny, and weak.  Despite his unease about discussing his mental or physical condition and our refraining, during our conversation we found out that they have transferred him to a smaller cell, or more accurately, smaller tomb.  His old cell was large enough to allow him to at least spend some time working out, but that is impossible in his new cell, which has enough space only for two people to sleep and essentially no chance for movement.  Also he has had no right to recess since his arrest one month ago (sometimes for 7-8 days he has been left alone) and they are doing everything to break his spirit.  He has been deprived from his elementary legal rights.  Can this be called anything but torture?  Does a regime have the right to behave so shamelessly and inhumanely toward one of its art icons, for the crime of an unmade film?”