GENEVA: United Nations human rights experts called yesterday on Iran to provide urgent medical care to two political prisoners, warning the seriously ill men risked dying in detention.
The UN’s special rapporteur on the rights situation in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, and other experts voiced alarm at Tehran’s alleged denial of medical care for blogger Mohammad Reza Pourshajari and religious cleric Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi.
“We are gravely concerned about the worsening health condition of Mr Pourshajari and Mr Boroujerdi, who require urgent access to specialist medical treatment outside prison,” the experts said in a statement. “The prison authorities have so far denied this fundamental right, despite prison physicians recommending such urgent care,” they added.
Pourshajari, who was arrested in 2010 for his blogging activities, has suffered a heart attack, has prostate disease, kidney stones, high sugar levels, breathing problems and high blood pressure. Boroujerdi, who was arrested in 2006 and is serving an 11-year-sentence, suffers from Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing and walking problems, kidney stones and a heart condition.
AFP
