Source:

February 27, 2010

Mehdi Arabshai and several other Ward 240 prisoners were sent to the hospital because of food poisoning caused by the poor quality of their prison meals.

RAHANA – Over the past few weeks several ward 240 prisoners have been treated for food poisoning at Evin’s clinic, while two or three others, including Mehdi Arabshahi, whose conditions were more serious, had to be taken to the Abolfazl Hospital on Bani Hashem Street in Tehran. In the past, the poor quality of prison meals has led to a number of protests by Ward 240 prisoners, but prison authorities continue to shrug their shoulders and ignore the situation.

According to a RAHANA reporter, the conditions of Arabshahi and the other prisoners were so critical that they were under treatment for a few days at Abolfazl Hospital, which is otherwise reserved for Intelligence Ministry staff.

Over the past few months the hygiene and food conditions at Evin have deteriorated as the number of prisoners has considerably increased. Ward 240 prisoners have protested the conditions on a number of occasions but their demands have been ignored by prison authorities.

Fruits are not a part of the prisoners’ diet in Ward 240.

During a visit with his family last Thursday, Arabshahi appeared very weak and complained about having chest pains. Arabshahi is a member of the central council of Advar Tahkim Vahdat. He has been detained in Evin since his arrest on December 27, 2009.