“Iran Human Rights Campaign” Demands Release of Arash Sadeghi from Prison

The Iran Human Rights Campaign called on Iranian government authorities to release political prisoner Arash Sadeghi in a statement, as this political prisoner “requires urgent and continuous medical care.”

Hadi Qasemi, director of the Iran Human Rights Campaign, stated in this statement published on Tuesday, October 10, that noting Arash Sadeghi “should not have been imprisoned in the first place,” the prison organization and Iran’s judiciary have a duty to “ensure the existence of appropriate conditions for all prisoners and detainees,” but according to him, these institutions “have a poor record in protecting prisoners, including Arash Sadeghi.”

Arash Sadeghi’s family had previously reported that he had contracted “chondrosarcoma, a malignant tumor that can lead to cancer.” This tumor was diagnosed in June of this year, but prison authorities “prevented him from receiving medical and specialized care” outside the prison. After sampling, Arash Sadeghi was returned to Rajaei Shahr Prison and his hand infection has worsened.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had also recently called for his immediate transfer to the hospital for diagnosis of a suspected cancerous tumor.

Deprivation of complete medical care had previously also worsened the medical condition of some prisoners; including Alireza Rajaei, a political prisoner, whose doctors after his release from prison due to cancer were forced to remove part of his face and drain one of his eyes.

Arash Sadeghi was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court on charges of assembly and conspiracy against internal security, insulting the leader, forming illegal groups, and propaganda against the system. The court judge also made a 4-year suspended prison sentence for this 32-year-old prisoner enforceable.

The 32-year-old Arash Sadeghi is serving his 15-year prison sentence for peaceful human rights activities.

Source: Voice of America