Political prisoner Hafez Forouhi, who was arrested during nationwide protests on January 18, 2023, remains in Lakan Prison in Rasht despite having served his sentence. According to his verdict, he was supposed to be released on January 17, 2025.
Hafez Forouhi’s case has been subjected to an ambiguous judicial process fraught with delays. Initially referred to the Revolutionary Court and later to the Criminal Court, he was sentenced to two years in prison, which was later increased to two years and three months by the Court of Appeal. According to Article 442 of the Islamic Penal Code, this sentence should have been reduced to 20 months and 7 days, yet this legal provision has not been implemented, and his release has been postponed.
A controversial aspect of this case is the role of Judge Iran Aghideh, who not only issued the initial verdict but also served as a judge in one of the appeal branches. This has raised concerns regarding the fairness and impartiality of the judicial process.
In protest of this situation, Hafez Forouhi went on a dry hunger strike on February 27, 2025. In a statement, he declared that he would continue his strike until his unconditional release. He emphasized that the Judiciary Execution Officer, the Criminal Court Judge, the Provincial Prosecutor, and security forces would be held responsible for his well-being.
