Severe Concern from Amnesty International Regarding the Health of Arash Sadeghi

Amnesty International announced in a statement released on Sunday that the Revolutionary Guards' prevention of immediate access to medical services for Arash Sadeghi, a political prisoner, constitutes 'torture.' According to Amnesty International, Arash Sadeghi, a human rights activist, is suffering from respiratory issues and internal bleeding due to a stomach ulcer, as well as abdominal pain and digestive problems. Arash Sadeghi, who was sentenced to a total of nineteen years in prison by the Revolutionary Court on charges such as connections with the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, links to PJAK, support for Bahá'ís, and correspondence with Ahmed Shaheed, who was the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran until December, had previously gone on a hunger strike for over seventy days in protest against the detention of his wife. A few months ago, he had gone on a hunger strike for over 70 days in protest against the detention of his wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi, who was granted temporary leave on January 4, after which Mr. Sadeghi ended his hunger strike. Ms. Ebrahimi was returned to prison in early February. Golrokh Ebrahimi has been accused of 'insulting the sacred' for writing an unpublished story about stoning in Iran. Amnesty International stated that the unpublished manuscript of Ebrahimi's book was discovered when agents went to arrest her and her husband at their home. Arash Sadeghi is imprisoned in Ward 350 of Evin Prison, where severe restrictions are imposed on political prisoners and their families. Concerns have also been raised regarding the health of Isa Saharkhiz, calls for the end of Ali Shariati's hunger strike, and warnings about the situation of Saeed Shirzad. Arash Sadeghi's medical leave was conditioned on the return of his wife to prison. Amnesty International criticized the re-arrest of Golrokh Ebrahimi and highlighted the continued detention of journalists and civil activists in Iran.