Amnesty International issued a statement calling for the immediate transfer of Arash Sadeghi from Evin Prison to a specialized cancer center.
Amnesty International announced on Thursday, July 4, that "human rights defender Arash Sadeghi has been diagnosed with a bone tumor that may be cancerous."
According to Amnesty International, despite medical recommendations to immediately transfer this prisoner to the Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, the authorities have only agreed to treat him at the Madani Hospital in Karaj.
Arash Sadeghi was arrested in his home in September 2014 along with his wife, Golrokh Iraei. The Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 19 years in prison on charges of “acting against national security, preparing human rights reports, and having ties to the People’s Mojahedin Organization and PJAK.”
Arash Sadeghi has called the accusations of his connection to these groups “a fabrication by the judiciary and IRGC intelligence.” The prisoner had been on a hunger strike for dozens of days in protest of his wife’s arrest.
Amnesty International is now expressing grave concern about Arash Sadeghi's condition, saying he has a tumor in his elbow that may be cancerous.
The organization says that for the past 18 months, the prisoner has been experiencing chronic pain in his elbow and shoulder, and that Evin Prison has only prescribed him "anti-inflammatory medications."
Also, according to a statement from Amnesty International, Arash Sadeghi learned from the doctors' conversation that they suspected bone cancer.
Amnesty International adds that Arash Sadeghi was transferred out of prison on June 13 to see a doctor, and on that day he was able to briefly see his medical file, which included the doctors' recommendation to transfer him to "Imam Khomeini Hospital."
Amnesty International has expressed concern that Karaj's "Civil Hospital" may not have sufficient equipment and expertise to diagnose and treat cancer, and has called for his transfer to a specialized cancer center.
Source: Radio Farda
