Fishermen in Iran jail denied even food; kin live in abysmal uncertainty

CHENNAI: Months after their detention in Iran, 35 fishermen from Tamil Nadu remain denied of basic needs, like food and water, as their families spend sleepless nights and penurious lives here in India. “We have been buying groceries on credit as we don't have any source of income now. He was the sole earner for our family,” said Lizy Edward, whose husband is one among the five who were arrested from Saudi, eight months ago.

In August 2016, five fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were working in Saudi were arrested in the waters on Iran, and October last year, 15 fishermen from Bahrain. Similarly, in December last year, 15 fishermen belonging to Ramanathapuram were arrested and detained subsequently. Distraught family members sent pleas to the state and union governments, including the minister for fisheries department, secretary of fisheries department, commissioner of fisheries, commissioner of welfare and rehabilitation, and the external affairs ministry, which fell on deaf ears.

“One member each from the Iran police and Coast Guard keeps a watch on the men all the time, even while they use the toilets. They are taken to use the toilets one by one and after a gap of 15 minutes between men going to toilets. They end up drinking seawater to survive,” Fr Churchill, general secretary of the South Asian Fishermen Fraternity, said. He added that the men live in so much uncertainty about getting food that some days they eat once so as to save food for the next day.

The brother of one among the 15 detained in October, A. Derinse, said, “They have been detained on the ships and whatever little food they get is from the help of other Tamil fishermen who slip in rice and other grains to them. There are days when they are unable to slip in food and these men go hungry. They are thankful even if they get food at least once or twice a
day.”

“Every family whose sole earner is stranded is living in a deplorable condition. The daughter of one of the fishermen discontinued her studies as she was not able to pay the fees,” he added.  According to the Supreme Court's judgment on March 3, it has asked the MEA on what measures have been taken to ensure their early release. “They asked the MEA to direct the Indian Embassy in Iran to check on the men and ensure that they receive supplies of food and medicines,” said Denrise.

When contacted, the commissioner of fisheries, Beela Rajesh, an official who had been personally been met by families of detained men, said: “We have taken it up with the MEA, and they are in touch with the embassy in Iran to get them out as soon as possible.” “The rules and the legal course in Iran are very stringent, so we are proceeding accordingly,” she added, speaking of the delay in getting the fishermen released.