Political prisoner Alireza Varasteh who is detained in Kashan Prison was transferred to a hospital after his family’s persistent follow ups.
The detained student is watched in the hospital by guards on a 24-hour basis and has been handcuffed and bound by his feet to his bed. Upon orders of prison authorities, his feet are not unshackled during the nights. The ailing prisoner cannot rest during the night due to the pressure the shackles put on his feet.
Reports indicate that the prison guards also insult and abuse him to the extent that his condition has deteriorated as a result of the pressure.
Alireza Varasteh, 23, was a student at Kashan University and was expelled from the Pardis Karaj University (for political reasons). He is suffering from severe psychological problems.
Background info:
Political prisoner Alireza Varasteh was interrogated for hours with blindfolds and was subjected to intense psychological pressure during his interrogations. Alireza was also forced to sign documents. After the end of the interrogation process, he was transferred to the quarantine section of Kashan Prison where he was held for two weeks. He was then transferred to the public section after his family’s protests. Political prisoner Alireza Varasteh was arrested for communicating with the families of the victims of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. After four months of detention, he was sentenced to 10 years of prison on various charges including being in contact with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).
According to reports, Alireza Varasteh suffers from a severe psychiatric illness and his illness has deteriorated since his detention. His medical records were referred to the Medical Commission after his family’s pursuits and the Commission confirmed that he should be released and receive medical treatment.