The Stream

#MehdiKhazali’s hunger strike continues

Activists create a “Twitterstorm” to call for the release of Iranian dissident Mehdi Khazali.

IRAN Mehdi Khazali

A woman walks past an electoral banner for Iran’s upcoming parliamentary election. (REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi)

Activists are drawing attention to the case of Mehdi Khazali, an imprisoned Iranian dissident who has been on a hunger strike for about 50 days. Khazali was arrested January 9 on unclear charges and recently received a sentence of 14 years in prison, 10 years in exile and flogging. He has reportedly said that his hunger strike would continue until his release.

Khazali, editor of a blog called Baran, has spoken about boycotting Iran’s March 2 parliamentary elections. Khazali was previously arrested after the 2009 presidential election for his writings that were critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Here are some of the highlights from the conversation online: