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Hunger Strike Causes Death of Iranian Prisoner

An Iranian student leader, who went on a hunger strike to demand his release from jail after first being released and then being rearrested, died in prison this week as the Islamic Republic went before the UN Security Council over its nuclear program and as Iran has come under increasing scrutiny over its support for the Islamic terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian authorities had arrested Akbar Mohammadi in 1999, after fighting broke out between students at Tehran University and security forces.

He was freed last year, but rearrested recently, prompting him to begin his hunger strike. Iranian Justice Minister Jamal Karimirad said of the Mohammadi, "He was under intense supervision by the prison physician. Last night his health condition deteriorated." Karimirad added, "He insisted on going back to his cell. His condition weakened again there and he died on his way to the hospital."

Mohammadi`s lawyer, Khalil Bahramian, says he was not given access to his client. He says he wanted to convince Mohammadi to discontinue the fast. He says, "This is a violation of international conventions and Iran`s own Islamic laws." An court in the extremist, anti-democratic theocracy had initially sentenced Mohammadi to death for participating in anti-government protests, though his sentence was later commuted to 15 years in prison.