Reza Khandan has criticized Iranian judiciary officials for the neglectful conditions faced by his imprisoned wife, Nasrin Sotoudeh, as she enter the 13th day of her hunger strike.
In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Reza Khandan said: “I think the officials, rather than trying to convince Nasrin to end her hunger strike, wouldn’t mind if her situation became critical due to her continuing refusal to eat.”
He added that officials have even refused to heed the simplest of Nasrin Sotoudeh’s demands, an in-person visit with her children on Sundays.
He stressed that if her family is allowed to see her in person, there is a good chance that they could convince her to begin eating.
Nasrin Sotoudeh, a jailed human rights lawyer, has been on a hunger strike in protest against her treatment by prison officials, which she claims is a violation of her rights as a prisoner.
Sotoudeh has protested against subjecting her family to pressure and refusing to allow her to visit her family in person or talk to them on the phone.
Khandan reported that on his last visit, he noticed Sotoudeh was brought to the visiting hall from the infirmary and appeared badly emaciated.
He said the officials urged her family to talk her into giving up her hunger strike. Khandan said: “Nasrin is denied in-person visits with us for over three months… If they allow me and her children to sit beside her and reassure her rather than just talks from behind a window in a busy hall, it would definitely be more effective.”
Khanadan expressed grave concern that his wife’s situation could become very dangerous, even though authorities could easily take a few steps to encourage her to end the strike.
Nasrin Sotoudeh has been in jailed since September of 2010, serving a six-year sentence for her involvement with the Defenders of Human Rights Centre.
