Heath of several political prisoners in Iran deteriorates

Many political prisoners in Iran with declining medical conditions have been denied treatment, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reports.

Hadi Qaemi, a political prisoner and relative of several members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK), has several health conditions that require treatment, including high blood pressure and prostate cancer. He is currently imprisoned in Ward 7 of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. He was arrested at home following major anti-regime protests and was taken to solitary confinement in Ward 209 of Evin Prison in late 2009 to serve a 15-year sentence.

Afshin Sohrabzadeh, aged just 23, is an Iranian Kurdish political prisoner currently in Minab Prison, southern Iran. He is also being denied medical treatment despite the fact that a doctor has written to prison officers stating that he needs to be treated in a hospital outside prison. Mr. Sohrabzadeh is thought to be suffering from cancer of the intestines and is said to be worsening by the day. In protest to the denial of medical care he has sewn his lips shut and been on hunger strike. In 2009 he was arrested by the regime’s intelligence agents and sentenced to imprisonment for “moharebeh” or “waging war on God”, over his affiliation to a Kurdish opposition group.

Prominent lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, has been denied treatment for his heart condition, vacillating blood pressure and chronic back and neck pain. Mr. Soltani who previously defended political prisoners, was sent to Evin Prison in June 2009 by the regime’s notorious Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). He was charged with propaganda against the regime and carrying out interviews in the media about his clients’ situation. He was given an 18 year prison sentence and has been barred from practicing law for 20 years.

Hassan Farji, an Iranian Kurdish political prisoner, aged 31, is awaiting execution in Orumieh (Urmia) Prison, north-western Iran. He was arrested by regime agents in Bukan five years ago. According to Mr. Farji’s relatives, the regime’s judge said that he was a “counter-revolutionary” who “certainly deserves to be executed”.