Dissident Iranian cleric poisoned in prison

NCRI - A dissident Iranian cleric has been poisoned in prison by agents of the regime's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), reports from Tehran's notorious Evin Prison say.

The reports indicate that Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi fell seriously ill on April 7 after MOIS agents poisoned his food. He has since developed strong pain all over his body, in particular in his feet and legs, and his vision has been drastically reduced.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi, 57, has spent nearly 10 years in the Iranian regime's jails, including at least 440 days in solitary confinement, due to his opposition to clerical rule. He was arrested in Tehran on October 8, 2006.

Earlier reports from Evin Prison said Boroujerdi had been facing brutal physical and psychological tortures behind bars. One report said that in prison his health has drastically deteriorated and he has been suffering from various illnesses, yet he has been denied proper treatment or medicine. In prison, he has developed a heart condition and kidney and respiratory problems. He has also lost about 90 percent of his vision in one eye and has lost a lot of weight. The only medication made available to him are pain-killers, the report said.

Ayatollah Boroujerdi was prosecuted behind closed doors by the regime's Special Clerical Court.

According to Amnesty International:

“He was charged with some 30 offences, including ‘waging war against God’ (moharebeh); committing acts against national security; publicly calling the principle of political leadership by the clergy unlawful; having links with anti-revolutionaries and spies; and using the term ‘religious dictatorship’ instead of ‘Islamic Republic’ in public discourse and radio interviews. He was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment on 13 August 2007 and defrocked (banned from wearing his clerical robes and thereby from practicing his clerical duties), and his house and all his belongings were confiscated. His family had appointed lawyers for him but the SCC refused to allow them to defend him on the grounds that only clerics appointed by the Judiciary could make representations on his behalf.”

“He is now held in Evin Prison’s Ward for the Clergy: he was imprisoned for advocating the separation of religion and state. He has been under increased pressure to write and sign ‘confessions’. Prison officials have told him at least once, in October 2013, that if he does not write a letter recanting his beliefs, he will never be released.”