Hana Human Rights Organization has learned that Hossein Shahozehi, a 28-year-old Baluch citizen and prisoner held in Mashhad Central Prison, has been on a hunger strike for the past three days in protest of the death sentence issued against him.
According to Hana’s sources, the death sentence was issued by Branch One of the Criminal Court of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Reza Akbari-Moghadam.
Sources close to Hossein Shahozehi’s family reported that approximately four years ago, while traveling as a passenger on a bus, he was arrested by security forces and subsequently charged with possession of a weapon—a charge that his relatives insist he denies, stating that no weapon was found in his possession at the time of arrest.
According to an informed source, after his arrest, Shahozehi was subjected to six months of severe interrogation and torture in security detention centers and spent some time in solitary confinement. These sources also stated that security forces were seeking access to a video file for the purpose of obtaining a coerced confession, and Shahozehi was promised release after recording the video and six months of detention; however, this promise was never fulfilled.
Hossein Shahozehi is currently held in Ward 6 of Mashhad Central Prison, where he has been detained for over three years.
Hana Human Rights Organization expresses deep concern about the physical and psychological condition of this Baluch prisoner and calls for the death sentence to be overturned, and for his case to be reviewed fairly and transparently.