Iranian Prisoners in Need of Medical Treatment, United Press - April 23, 2004

Washington D.C., April 21 – An American organization urged the Bush administration on Wednesday to use its resources and powers to ensure that two political prisoners in Iran receive medical treatment. The organization 'Alliance for a Democratic Iran in America' stated that these prisoners – Manoochehr Mohammadi and his brother Akbar Mohammadi – are in urgent need of medical care. The group noted that Manoochehr is a kidney patient and also suffers from a severe gum infection that requires immediate surgery. Iranian authorities have rejected his family's request for a temporary leave from prison for treatment. Akbar also suffers from kidney disease and hearing loss. He was once urgently transferred to a hospital in Tehran for surgery, but authorities denied his doctor's request for him to remain hospitalized for a month for continued treatment. Both were arrested along with other active students following the protests of 1999. According to Amnesty International, Manoochehr's seven-year prison sentence was extended by two more years due to his interview with a foreign media outlet and issuing political statements from inside prison. Akbar was initially sentenced to death, but his punishment was later reduced to 15 years in prison after his appeal.