The case of imprisoned Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan has long interested this website.
The latest, according to Californian-based writer and blogger Cyrus Farivar, is that Hossein remains in jail and in pretty bad condition. It is now one year since his disappearance:
I have also been in regular contact with Hossein Derakhshan’s brother, Hamed Derakhshan, who just told me the following via Skype chat:
– His parents recently had a meeting with the new district attorney, who allowed them to have dinner in Evin Prison with their son, Hossein Derakhshan, on Thursday, October 29, 2009.
– This confirms that Hossein is being held in Evin Prison, however the family does not know the next time they will be allowed to see him.
– At the dinner, Hossein confirmed the recent Human Rights Activists in Iran reports that claim he had been forced to do squats in cold showers and has been beaten repeatedly.
– Hossein is now sorry that he asked for a media blackout.
“Yes, he told my family that he regrets telling us not to cover his story if he was arrested,” Hamed Derakhshan wrote. “He said he should have asked us to create a media campaign after two months if he was still arrested.”
– Hamed believes that his and his father’s speaking out has had a direct impact on the Iranian government’s behavior.