Sunday, February 5, 2017 3:26:35 PM
Photo Credit by Relatives.
The Secretary General of the Freedom Front and political activist Dr. Mehdi Khazali was arrested by Intelligence Service agents in the afternoon of February 5, 2017, BCR Group has learned.
Dr. Khazali was arrested in front of his office and the Intelligence Service agents, whose tasks are being determined by President Hassan Rouhani, taken him to Tehran notorious Evin prison. He has allegedly started an indefinite dry hunger strike, say relatives.
The agents allegedly transferred him to Ward 350 (public ward) in the prison after Shahid Moghadas Court issued an arrest warrant, according to his relatives.
"I do refuse food and water, and will start an indefinite hunger strike, he said at the time of his arrest.
During a meeting on February 1, 2017, the Iranian optometrist dissident announced that "We don't come out on February 10, for celebration of 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. We don't come out to legitimize all persecutions, harassment, crimes, and arbitrary arrests by the regime against citizens. We stay at home on the day of Islamic Revolution anniversary to respect freedom and democracy." The regime has repeatedly persuaded people attending in its rallies for the past 38 years in various manners by running street shows or celebrities presence. Iran's regime has practiced to misuse people for gaining legitimacy."
No body knows that what charges he has been accused for or where he has been taken in, reliable sources told BCR Group.
In this regard, one of the members of the House of Pen in Iran chairing by Dr. Khazali, Mohammad-Bagher Moradi told the rights group that the IRGC plainclothes forces were patrolling around Dr. Khazali's office last night. His relatives have expressed concern over Mr. Khazali's situation and worried about his health because of dry hunger strike, added the source.
Further, he, the founder of the House of Pen in Iran, has recently come out to blame the specialists of Tajrish Hospital who had not transferred Ayatollah Rafsanjani's body to the forensics office. He called down the specialists avoiding the forensic medical examination for injuries and taking samples that may be used as evidence in a police investigation.
Mahdi Khazali is a publisher, physician, blogger and son of a leading right-wing cleric and former Counsel of Guardians member, Ayatollah Abolghasem Khazali.
Dr. Mehdi Khazali and His Father Ayatollah Abolghasem Khazali, Photo Credit by relatives.
He is also an Islamic scholar and the director of the Hayyan Cultural Institute in Tehran. Contrary to the legacy of his father - who is a strong supporter of Iranian President Ahmedinejad - he opposes the excessive mixing of religion and government and believes it can be harmful in modern society. He is one of the strongest critics of the government in Iran, according to his Wikipedia page.
