Tehran, June 14, IRNA-Health conditions of jailed lawyer Nasser Zarafshan has deteriorated amid dangerous symptoms affecting his life, his wife Homa Zarafshan told IRNA on Tuesday.

"He is on hunger strike for eight consecutive days. He lost 14 kilograms and doctors visiting him warned about his health situation, she said.

Lawyer Zarafshan had undertaken to defend rights of bereaved families of the victims of the serial murders which shocked the country in 1998.

Political Activist Darioush Forouhar, his wife Parvaneh Eskandari, authors Mohammad Mokhtari and Mohammad Jaafar Puyandeh were killed in 1998.

Families of victims of the serial murders hired lawyer Zarafshan to defend their rights.

The Judiciary sentenced him to five years in prison on charge of 'revealing secrets'.

Advocates of Freedom of Expression and human rights activists gathered in front of Evin prison, staging sit-in protest demanding Zarafshan's immediate release from prison.

Presidential candidate Mostafa Moin assigned his spokeswoman Elaheh Koulaei to join the sit-in protest and announce his support for the protesters.

Other religious-nationalist political activists have also joined the gathering including veteran politician Ezzatollah Sahabi to highlight Zarafshan's alarming health condition.

Zarafshan has said that he will continue with hunger strike until his freedom from jail.

... Payvand News - 6/14/05 ... --