Jailed Brit woman on hunger strike in Iran

London: A British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran after trying to watch a volleyball match is on a hunger strike, refusing food or liquids, her brother told AFP.

Ghoncheh Ghavami, a 25-year-old law graduate from London, is protesting against a judicial delay in making her one-year prison sentence official, her brother said. "She's been on hunger strike from Saturday," Iman Ghavami said in a phone interview. "She's not eating any solid foods and she's not drinking any liquids."

Ghavami said that his sister was "frustrated" at her detention without an official sentence. "The case is in limbo. The investigation is over and the case is closed and the verdict is decided," he said. "I don't understand why they don't want to issue the verdict when they have made the decision. It's quite concerning for us. They have no legal basis to have her detained."

Last month a court sentenced Ghavami to a year in jail, according to the family. She was arrested after attempting to attend a men's volleyball match between Iran and Italy in Tehran in June. Female fans and women journalists were told they could not attend, leading to a brief protest.

Woman are banned from attending volleyball and football matches in Iran, which officials say protects them from lewd behaviour.