Freed journalist reveals horror conditions inside Iran jail where Kylie Moore-Gilbert is held
A former prisoner of the Iranian jail where Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert is being held has given an insight into its shocking conditions.
World
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Exclusive: A former prisoner of the Iranian jail where Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert is being held has given an insight into its shocking conditions.
Jason Rezaian, who spent 544 days in the high security unit 2a of Evin prison, said lights were kept on 24 hours a day in the 3m by 2m solitary confinement cells.
He said the guards called the jail a “hotel” and they referred to the larger cells as “suites”, which were the size of a standard bedroom and did not even have a mattress.
Mr Rezaian, who was released in 2016, said that Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne must do everything she can to get Dr Moore-Gilbert out.
“I never expected that the Iranians were going to do the right thing and let me go,” he said.
“People don’t take hostages if they have a concept of shame.”
Dr Moore-Gilbert’s family released a statement at the weekend saying that they loved her and missed her.
They confirmed they had been able to speak with her on the telephone in recent weeks.
They added Dr Moore-Gilbert, a University of Melbourne Islamic Studies expert who grew up in Bathurst, NSW, had “strongly denied reports that she has attempted suicide or that she is being tortured.”
Dr Moore-Gilbert has been convicted of spying and sentenced to 10 years’ jail on charges she vehemently denied.
Mr Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter, was captured with his wife and was accused of spying.
He was released in January 2016 following a deal between the United States government and Iran.
Mr Rezaian said the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp who control that section of the prison were ruthless.
“They say they are going to cut off your right hand, your right leg,” he said, adding he was never physically harmed.
“There is a concerted effort to get you to break. It doesn’t stop.
“Part of it is that they take pleasure in it, part of it is because they have been trained to give you a real sense of uncertainty to keep you off guard.”
Prisoners in the solitary confinement cells were given only three blankets – one to use as a bed, one for a pillow and another for warmth and lights were kept on 24 hours a day.
Sometimes an extra person was added to those cells, although many prisoners feared they were put in there by the guards to spy on them.
Women were kept on an upper floor, while men were kept on lower floors.
There was a larger section of the unit, about the size of a standard bedroom, where prisoners were given access to a small courtyard and a television.
Up to three prisoners were placed in these sections, which had steel cots but no mattresses and some blankets.
The courtyard had “massive” high walls, but it did give prisoners some sunlight.
Dr Moore-Gilbert was arrested at an airport in Iran as she was leaving, after being invited to a conference at the University of Qom in September 2018.
A colleague at the conference reported her to Iranian authorities.
Dr Moore-Gilbert released a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, first reported by News Corp Australia, pleading with him to get her out of jail.
There have been concerns that Dr Moore-Gilbert remained in the high security unit 2a instead of being put into the general prison population.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said: “Dr Moore-Gilbert’s case is one of our highest priorities, including for our Embassy officials in Tehran.
“The Foreign Minister has repeatedly raised the case with her Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Zarif, in face-to-face meetings and in correspondence.
“While we continue to work to secure her release, we are doing everything we can to ensure the conditions of her imprisonment are the best they can be.”
Former NSW Labor MP Dr Meredith Burgman said she had concerns that the Australian Government was not doing enough for Dr Moore-Gilbert.
She said the international community needed to put pressure on to “get her out now.”
Dr Moore-Gilbert’s lawyer Hosein Taj declined to be interviewed about her case.
Earlier, the family of Dr Moore-Gilbert revealed they have been able to speak with her in recent weeks.
Her family told News Corp Australia that she was in “good health” in Tehran’s Evin prison.
“We have had a number of conversations with Kylie in recent weeks,” the family said.
“She has strongly denied reports that she has attempted suicide or that she is being tortured.
“She seems to be in good health considering her situation. We love her and miss her.”
The statement was the first time that the family has broken its silence since news of her arrest broke last year.
Dr Moore-Gilbert’s lawyer visited her at the weekend and rejected reports that she had become suicidal.
“During the meeting, it was clear that her condition was better than before,” Hosein Taj, an Iranian human rights lawyer, said in a tweet.
Iran had been releasing some prisoners as coronavirus spread through the country.
There were hopes that some political prisoners may be released during Ramadan, according to sources with knowledge of the prison.
However, that was tempered when Iran sentenced French academic Fariba Adelkhah to six years jail at the weekend.
MORE NEWS
What small business needs to avoid wipe-out
ASX rollercoaster continues amid ‘retail apocalypse’ warning
Child hand sanitiser poisonings on the rise
Senator lashes Holden over ‘unforgivable’ exit
The 61-year-old from Sciences Po University joined Dr Moore-Gilbert in a hunger strike at Christmas to protest against their treatment.
Dr Moore-Gilbert had pleaded with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to get her out of Evin prison, in a letter first revealed by News Corp Australia on Christmas Eve last year.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Dr Moore-Gilbert’s case was “one of our highest priorities”.
“We do not accept the charges upon which Dr Moore-Gilbert was convicted and continue all efforts to have her returned to Australia as soon as possible,” a statement said.
“The Foreign Minister has repeatedly raised the case with her Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Zarif, in face-to-face meetings and in correspondence.
“While we continue to work to secure her release, we are doing everything we can to ensure the conditions of her imprisonment are the best they can be.”
Dr Moore-Gilbert was now on track to become the longest serving female prisoner in the solitary confinement unit 2, after she was arrested in September 2018.
For those needing help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.