Kurdish activist Mohammad Houshangi who had gone on a hunger strike on 23 February in Orumiyeh Central Prison, northwestern Iran, ended his strike on 7 March.
Houshangi had started the strike to protest against his continued detention and the objection of the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to his temporary release despite the payment of bail.
He was returned from solitary confinement to the ward for political prisoners on 7 March after ending his hunger strike.
Reportedly, during this period, the activist lost weight and suffered high blood pressure and was in poor health condition.
On 26 February, three days after the start of the hunger strike, he was transferred to solitary confinement by orders from prison officials and the Special Office of the Ministry of Intelligence in Orumiyeh prison.
During this period, Houshangi was denied the right to contact or receive visits by his family.
Reportedly, the activist ended his hunger strike following promises by prison officials and the prison supervising judge to allow his release on bail.
Contrary to the claims of prison officials, following his hunger strike, the court of Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, has increased the bail from two billion Tomans – nearly 80,000 USD – to seven billion Tomans – 280,000 USD.
In early February, after 14 months of Houshangi’s temporary detention, Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, informed the activist’s family that the bail amount for his temporary detention had been reduced to two billion Tomans – nearly 80,000 USD.
The family, who reside in a village in Javanrud, Kermanshah province, travelled several times to Mahabad and took the necessary administrative steps for providing the bail for the release of their son.
While the family was expecting Houshangi’s release on 16 February, the Islamic Revolutionary Court told them that his detention would continue due to the opposition of the Intelligence Organisation of the IRGC and continuing investigations.
On 10 January 2021, the Intelligence Organisation of the IRGC arrested Houshangi in Tehran during a wave of widespread arrests of Kurdish activists and civilians.
They took the activist to the Haft-e Tir detention centre of the security institution in Orumiyeh.
After six months, he was transferred to Orumiyeh Central Prison following the issuance of a temporary arrest warrant.
