Human Rights Watch: Iranian authorities should immediately put an end to the mistreatment of two prominent imprisoned journalists and provide them with necessary medical care. Human Rights Watch again called on authorities to quash the men’s convictions, which violate their freedom of expression, and release them unconditionally.
Mohammad Sadigh Kaboudvand, a leading advocate of Kurdish rights in Iran, is serving a 10-and-a-half-year sentence on politically motivated charges. He began a hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin prison on May 26, 2012, to protest prison authorities’ denial of his repeated requests to visit his adult son, Pejman, who is seriously ill with a blood condition. Bahman Ahmadi-Amoui, a journalist affiliated with numerous reformist publications, had been serving a five-year prison sentence in the same ward but was transferred to a prison in the city of Karaj on June 12, apparently as punishment for marking the anniversary of the death of another hunger-striking prisoner.
“Kaboudvand has already suffered five years of abuse, ill-treatment, and neglect simply because he chose to speak out against injustice,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Denying him even temporary leave to see his seriously ill son is an unnecessarily callous act by Iranian authorities.”
Kaboudvand himself suffers from ill health, including a serious heart condition. His wife told Human Rights Watch that his condition has deteriorated drastically as a result of the hunger strike. Ahmadi-Amoui’s family has been informed that prison officials are holding him in incommunicado solitary confinement as punishment. His family has not seen him since his transfer and is worried about his psychological and physical health.
Kaboudvand was a 2009 recipient and Ahmadi-Amoui was a 2011 recipient of Human Rights Watch’s Hellmann-Hammett award, which recognizes writers for their commitment to free expression and their courage in the face of political persecution.
Kaboudvand’s wife, Parinaz Hassani, told Human Rights Watch that when she visited her husband on July 9, he had lost a lot of weight and had a lung infection as a result of his hunger strike. He has refused to allow prison doctors to feed him via a serum intravenously. Authorities last allowed him to visit his son in the hospital for less than an hour about two-and-a-half months ago, in the presence of prison authorities, but have not allowed him a visit since.
Prison authorities have also denied him leave to seek medical treatment for his various physical ailments despite the advice of prison doctors. Human Rights Watch has previously expressed concern regarding Kaboudvand’s physical condition and called on authorities to release him unconditionally. Since his imprisonment in 2007, Kaboudvand has suffered two heart attacks, high blood pressure, neurological difficulties, and problems with his prostate.
Intelligence agents arrested Kaboudvand on July 1, 2007. In May 2008, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 10-and-a-half years in prison for “acting against national security” by establishing the Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan, and another year for “widespread propaganda against the system by disseminating news, opposing Islamic penal laws by publicizing punishments such as stoning and executions, and advocating on behalf of political prisoners.” In October 2008, Branch 54 of the Tehran Appeals Court upheld his sentence.
“It’s hard to fathom that Iranian authorities have jailed a journalist for the supposed crimes of opposing barbaric punishments like stoning and for advocacy on behalf of political prisoners,” Whitson said.
International and Iranian law requires prison authorities to provide detainees with adequate medical care. Iran’s State Prison Organization regulations state that, if necessary, detainees must be transferred to a hospital outside the prison facility. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners require that authorities transfer prisoners needing specialist treatment to specialized institutions, including civilian hospitals.
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درود بر تمام زندانیان سیاسی
BavafaTue Jul 17, 2012 06:59 AM PDT
Iranians of all walks of life taking a stand for their freedom and just rights. They are to be commanded and supported by all freedom loving folks.
Iranians need to stand united in their support for these brave souls, support their goals and aspiration for a free independent and prospers Iran.
Foreign nations which thru their apartheid policy practice the same insanity and unjust detentions cannot be a good example for the future of Iran and need not to apply.
'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory
Mehrdad
Shame on these cowardly Islamist fascists...
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Mon Jul 16, 2012 03:41 PM PDTFor putting such a highly regarded Jurnalist, a man with such courage, dignity and passion for human rights behind jails.
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
Non-Islamists Backbreakers 101
by Demo on Mon Jul 16, 2012 09:53 AM PDTPer Fred's logic & teachings if the Islamists are Rapists then Backbreakers must be Non-Islamists!
Islamist Rapists
by Fred on Mon Jul 16, 2012 09:41 AM PDTIn the past 34 years, by the process of elimination, all approaches have been tried with the Messianic Islamist Rapists, the last being the “reform movement” and all have failed.
Regime change is the only way to stop the nonstop gross violations of human rights, crimes against humanity and the warmongering by the barbaric Islamist Rapists.
Backbreaking airtight sanction which include air/naval quarantine is a must.