Political Prisoner Salar Sadeghi Hamdani
In a continuation of systematic pressure on political prisoners in Iran, political prisoner Salar Sedighi Hamedani has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison following a brief and reportedly unfair trial. This new sentence comes despite the fact that he had already been serving a 19-year prison term, seven years of which he has spent under inhumane conditions.
According to reports, the recent trial, presided over by Judge Sajad Dousti, lasted only a few minutes. Sedighi Hamedani was denied the right to choose his legal counsel. The new charges against him include alleged “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),” “propaganda against the state,” and “disrupting prison security”.
Previous Convictions
Sedighi Hamedani was originally sentenced in 2018 by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Urmia. He received:
15 years for “membership in the PMOI/MEK,”
1 year for “propaganda against the regime,” and
3 years for “filming military sites.”
These sentences total 19 years of discretionary imprisonment, a significant portion of which he has served in prisons including Urmia, Salmas, Kamyaran, and most recently, Naqadeh.
Torture, Exile, and Increased Pressure
Throughout his imprisonment, Sedighi Hamedani has endured both psychological and physical abuse. He has been forcibly separated from his elderly father, Ebrahim Khalil Sedighi Hamedani, who suffers from diabetes and has undergone partial amputation due to infection. Authorities have denied repeated requests for the son to be transferred to Khoy Prison, where his father is held and requires care.
In June 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak at Urmia Prison, both Sedighi Hamedani and his father—then on hunger strike—contracted the virus. Despite this, prison officials refused to transfer them to the medical ward.
Hunger Strikes and Prison Conditions
Sedighi Hamedani and his father have repeatedly gone on hunger strike to protest unjust prison conditions, including failure to separate inmates based on the type of offense and threats of violence from other prisoners reportedly incited by prison staff. One such protest occurred in January 2022 in Urmia Prison after the pair were threatened with knives by instigated inmates.
Repeated Transfers and Family Separation
Also in January 2022, following new allegations of “inciting prisoners to protest” and “verbal altercations with prison officials,” Salar and his father were exiled to separate prisons—Kamyaran and Marivan respectively. These transfers were reportedly intended to sever familial contact and intensify psychological pressure.
Attempted Murder in Prison
In April 2023, reports emerged that a fellow inmate—allegedly provoked by prison authorities—attempted to stab Sedighi Hamedani in Salmas Prison. Other prisoners intervened and prevented the attack from becoming fatal. This incident highlights the severe physical threats faced by political prisoners in Iran and the direct responsibility of prison authorities for their safety.
Transfer to Naqadeh and Ongoing Abuse
In January 2024, Sedighi Hamedani was transferred to Naqadeh Prison. Despite his father’s presence in Khoy Prison and a formal request for the son to be moved there to provide care, the judiciary denied the appeal. This refusal not only hampers family visits but also constitutes a form of psychological torture and a clear violation of human rights.
