Arab Political Prisoner Rahim Afrawi Released After 25 Years of Incarceration

Hengaw: Monday, February 26, 2024

Rahim Afrawi, an Arab political prisoner, has been released from the Central Prison of Ahvaz after spending 24 years and 7 months behind bars without the right to leave. Initially sentenced to death on charge of waging war against God, his sentence was later commuted to 25 years of imprisonment in exile.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Saturday, February 10, 2024, Rahim Afrawi, aged 55 and hailing from Susangard, Khuzestan province, was released from the Central Prison of Ahvaz.

Originally condemned to death by the Revolutionary Court for "waging war against God," his sentence was subsequently reduced to 25 years in prison along with exile to Jiroft through an appeal process.

Rahim Afrawi was deported to Jiroft Central Prison in Kerman to serve his prison term. After spending 13 years in incarceration, he was transferred to Karun Prison and eventually to Shiban Prison in Ahvaz.

It is noteworthy that Rahim Afrawi, a father of two, tragically lost his parents while serving his sentence in Jiroft prison.

During the Shiban prison protests in 2019, Rahim Afrawi's right hand was injured by prison guards amidst the spread of the Corona virus. Due to a lack of medical attention, the injury became inflamed, resulting in a permanent loss of mobility.

Rahim Afrawi was apprehended by Ministry of Intelligence operatives while en route to work on the Ahvaz road in July 1999.