TEHRAN – Atena Farghadani has gone on hunger strike in Evin Prison to protest verbal abuse by prison guards.  The Iranian artist has been in Iran’s most infamous prison since January on charges of “insulting members of parliament through paintings” and “spreading propaganda against the system” over a drawing of her country’s parliament as animals.

Eshrat Ardestani, Fargahdani’s mother, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the activist-artist had “required urgent medical care when her blood pressure dropped” four days into a dry hunger strike, refusing food and water entirely.

Less than one year into her 12-year, 9-month prison term, Atena Farghadani has been taken for urgent medical attention due to low blood pressure. This is in addition to showing symptoms of lymphatic disease, and reports of frequent physical and verbal abuse (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.)

Atena Farghadani told her mother that the reason for her hunger strike was repeated verbal abuse by prison guards, suggesting that she had sexual relations with her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi.  Farghadani and Moghimi were each charged with the crime of Indecency for shaking hands in July.

That handshake between client and lawyer was described by government courts as “indecent conduct” representing an “illegitimate sexual relationship short of adultery” as they were charged with the crime, which carries a punishment of up to 173 lashes under Iran’s Penal Code.  Moghimi spent four days in prison, and was released on 20 million toman ($60,000 USD) bail.

“They have tarnished my daughter’s reputation in prison,” said the artist’s mother. “They are playing with her integrity with their [ugly] words.”

In her own words, Atena Farghadani has described being regularly subjected to torture both physical and mental over her first year in prison.  During a previous hunger strike protesting beatings from prison guards, she suffered a heart attack.

Atena Farghadani drew this cartoon to protest a law restricting birth control and posted in to her Facebook page, leading her to a nearly 13-year prison sentence (Facebook.)

These numerous health problems are expected to be the main defense in the 28-year-old’s appeal, which is set to take place at an unknown future date.  Since her arrest the university student has suffered a heart attack, lymphatic disease, low blood pressure, fainting, bruises from beatings by guards, and traumatic mental disturbance stemming from her maltreatment by authorities.

Farghadani’s mother added, “Atena has lost everything as a young university honor student in prison. She has nothing more to lose. All this psychological torture against a young imprisoned girl is unnecessary. Why do they have to make life difficult for her even in prison?”