Jailed Iranian publisher Mehdi Khazali has been transferred to the general ward 350 of Evin Prison from the security section.
Khazali`s son, Saleh Khazali, told the Kaleme opposition website on August 9 that his father has been on a hunger strike for 22 days.
Mehdi Khazali, the director of Hayan Publishings, was arrested on July 18, prompting him to declare a hunger strike that he said would last until his death.
Mehdi Kahzali`s son reports that on the day of his arrest, his father was approached by three officials from the Ministry of Intelligence bearing an arrest warrant. He says his father insisted that he had already put up bail for the warrant and refused to accompany the officials. The officials then reportedly forced him into a car and took him away.
Mehdi Khazali’s father is Abollghassem Khazali, an ultraconservative cleric and member of the Assembly of Experts, who has disowned his son for his critical views of the government. Mehdi Khazali`s son reports that Abollghassem Khazali is in full agreement with Mehdi’s treatment by the authorities.
Mehdi Khazali was previously arrested last September and released about a month later. He was also arrested in June of 2010 and released after a month on bail of $20,000.
In the past two years, Khazali has published several critical notes on his weblog regarding Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his administration.
