Academic to go on hunger strike in Iranian prison over ‘trumped up’ spy charge

IRAN’S FOREIGN ministry said it will not “give in to the political and smear campaigns” over the jailing of British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert.

The Cambridge-educated academic has been in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for more than a year, having been given a 10-year sentence for violating Iran’s national security.

It was reported Ms Moore-Gilbert and another jailed academic, Dr Fariba Adelkhah, had begun a hunger strike on Christmas Eve.

In an open letter published by supporters and confirmed by the Centre for International Research at Sciences-Po where Dr Adelkhah works, the two women said: “We will strike on behalf of all academics and researchers across Iran and the Middle East, who like us have been unjustly imprisoned on trumped up charges and simply doing their job as researchers.

“We have been subjected to psychological torture and numerous violations of our basic human rights.”

When asked by reporters if he was concerned for Ms Moore-Gilbert’s welfare, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was, adding: “As I am for any Australian who finds themselves in these types of situations.”

But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said Ms Moore-Gilbert, who holds dual British and Australian citizenship, is being afforded her legal rights.

He said: “She has been arrested on a charge of violating Iran’s national security, and the competent court has also issued the appropriate ruling by observing all relevant laws.

“Experience has shown that the Islamic Republic of Iran would not give in to the political and smear campaigns, and this Australian citizen is serving her sentence while enjoying all legal rights, like any other convict with a judicial verdict.”

Dr Moore-Gilbert was most recently a lecturer in Islamic Studies at Melbourne University. She is believed to be in the same prison as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.