Additionally, on August 30th, the Italian Parliamentary and Citizens’ Committee for a Free Iran sent an open letter to the more than 20 hunger striking political prisoners in Gohardasht Prison. In this letter they condemned the crimes of Tehran’s regime, and express admiration for the prisoners’ commitment to non-violent struggle and self-sacrifice.

The following is a translation of the text of the letter:

“Rome, 30 August 2017:

“The Italian Parliamentary and Citizens’ Committee for a Free Iran has been following the human rights situation in Iran for many years and wishes freedom, democracy and peace for the Iranian people. It welcomes your commitment and your fight, conducted without violence and with great capacity for sacrifice, against torture and harassment by the regime.

“We Italian parliamentarians have been informed about your situation and your resistance for a few weeks and have appealed to the Italian, European and United Nations authorities to ask the Iranian regime to respect the obligations of international law on human rights, due process and respect for the lives, health and dignity of political prisoners.

“We know that you are now subjected to constant monitoring, with closed-circuit cameras and listening devices everywhere, and without any privacy; that your cells have windows covered with metal plates and very little ventilation; that you have no access to drinking water; that family visits and phone calls are prohibited; and that some of you were kept in isolation for up to 12 days.

“We have also denounced the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners by the regime in 1988 in all the relevant courts.

“While we strongly condemn the crimes of the mullahs’ regime, we express our full solidarity and support. Therefore, we ask you, as Italian parliamentarians, to stop the hunger strike, and we confirm our commitment to your rightful requests being accepted in accordance with the rules of international law.”

Also, on August 30th, MEP and Chair of the Friends of a Free Iran in the European Parliament, Gérard Deprez, sent a letter of his own to the hunger striking political prisoners in Iran.

His letter reads as follows:

“Dear Friends,

“I am writing to you as chair of Friends of a Free Iran in the European Parliament which enjoys the support of around 300 MEPs from different political tendencies. I would like first to express our highest regards and admiration to all of you. By your brave resistance you have shown the world about the nature of this religious dictatorship.

“On the start of the second month of your hunger strike, you have proved that to restore your rights and to fulfil the wish and request of the people of Iran, which is freedom and democracy, you are prepared to pay any price. You are really continuing the path of those 30,000 political prisoners who were brutally executed in summer of 1988, just because they wanted freedom.

“In the past 4 weeks that you have been on strike, we in the European Parliament have issued several statements in support of your legitimate demands and tried to be your voice. During this strike, the Iranian regime has been forced to accept some of your requests but you and we have a long way forward to reach our goals.

“In the present circumstances please allow us to urge you not to continue your hunger strike in the second month. We promise to fully support your legitimate demands. We need you to get well soon and have enough energy, so you can continue your fight and campaign for freedom much better than before.

“Your brother,

Gérard Deprez MEP
Chair, Friends of a Free Iran
European Parliament
Brussels
August 30, 2017”