Prisoners of conscience at Orumiyeh Central Prison have demanded their release in a letter addressed to authorities, citing wartime conditions and concerns for their safety.
The letter was signed by all 62 inmates held in the security ward known as ‘Ershad’, who expressed concern about their security inside the prison and the situation of their families in various cities.
After submitting the letter to the ward officer, the prisoners gathered in front of the prison guard post, calling on officials to respond.
An informed source in Orumiyeh said: “Sixty-two prisoners of conscience held in the security ward known as ‘Ershad’ have signed a letter addressed to prison authorities and the supervising judge, expressing concern about their security situation in prison as well as the situation of their families in various cities, and have requested that, like prisoners convicted of ordinary crimes, they be allowed to secure temporary release on bail or be granted temporary leave.”
In recent days, following the bombing of several military and government centres in different cities, supervising judges and prison officials in a number of facilities have summoned families and announced that prisoners may be temporarily released on bail or upon presenting a business licence, or granted 15 days’ leave.
Hundreds of prisoners across various prisons have been released under these measures. However, Peyman Khanzadeh, head of Orumiyeh Central Prison, has told the families of prisoners of conscience that inmates charged with membership in or collaboration with Kurdish parties, or espionage, will not be eligible.
Information received from the prisons of Salmas, Orumiyeh, Naqadeh, Oshnavieh, Mahabad, Marivan and Kamyaran indicates that hundreds of prisoners have been immediately and conditionally released on bail or upon presenting a business licence, or granted 15 days’ leave at the Prisoners’ Support Office in the presence of the supervising judge, despite the closure of the judiciary in these cities.
Prisoners have been told that their leave will be extended if the war continues.
