Doctors Warn: Mahmoud Salehi's Health Condition is Critical

The Committee for the Defense of Mahmoud Salehi, a imprisoned labor activist in Kurdistan province of Iran, has raised alarms about his health condition. According to his acquaintances, Mr. Salehi suffers from heart disease and diabetes, and his kidneys require dialysis twice a week. The Committee stated in a statement that "the doctors treating Mahmoud Salehi sent a letter to judicial, security officials, and the authorities of the central prison in Saqez," warning about his deteriorating physical condition and requesting that this labor activist, "who faces numerous heart-related complications, be urgently transferred to a well-equipped hospital in Tehran or Tabriz for the installation of a pacemaker." However, according to the statement, the judicial and security officials, as well as the authorities of the central prison in Saqez, did not respond positively to the doctors' requests and have kept him in prison despite his very poor health condition. The Committee for the Defense of Mahmoud Salehi, whose spokesperson is Najibe Salehi, the wife of this labor activist, stated that the efforts and follow-ups by Mr. Salehi's family to convince the security and judicial authorities have so far been unsuccessful. Mahmoud Salehi was arrested on November 6 after his kidney dialysis in a hospital in Saqez to serve his one-year prison sentence. This labor activist was transferred to the prison clinic in Saqez and then to the intensive care unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital in the city on the night of November 12 due to the exacerbation of his heart disease. His treating physician had recommended that he be transferred to a better-equipped hospital in Tehran, Tabriz, or Urmia due to his weak heart, but judicial authorities opposed this and returned him to Saqez prison on November 20. Previously, the International Confederation of Trade Unions, the International Union of Industrial Workers, the Canadian Public Services Workers Union (CUPE), five French labor unions, and several labor organizations had called for the immediate release of Mahmoud Salehi. In this context, Walter Sanchez, the General Secretary of the International Union of Industrial Workers, mentioned in a letter to Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, that "only 30 percent of Mahmoud Salehi's heart" is functioning. He emphasized that "Mahmoud Salehi's life is in very serious danger if he remains in prison." The Canadian Public Services Workers Union also sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and Hassan Rouhani expressing concern over what they termed "the continued repression and harassment of labor activists," calling for the immediate and unconditional release of political activists. According to the International Union in support of workers in Iran, this letter pointed out that the life of this labor activist in prison is in serious danger. In this regard, a global labor union and five French unions have called for the release of Salehi and Shahabi. The Unit Workers Union: End the shackling of labor activists and teachers. Mahmoud Salehi was returned to Saqez prison despite the recommendation of his treating physician. Security and judicial officials opposed the transfer of Mahmoud Salehi to a better-equipped hospital. The International Confederation of Trade Unions has strongly criticized the treatment of labor activists.