HRANA News Agency – The head of Minab prison, Saleh Barezi, has beaten Afshin Sohrabzadeh, exiled political prisoner who is diagnosed with cancer, and forced him to sleep on the floor. He also threatened other prisoners not to give their bed to him to rest. This is while prison authorities has confirmed officially in writing that Mr. Sohrabzadeh is dying.
According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Afshin Sohrabzadeh, exiled political prisoner who is diagnosed with cancer, was beaten by the head of the security of Minab prison, Saleh Barezi during inspections in the ward.
A close source to Afshin Sohrabzadeh told HRANA’s reporter, “Mr. Saleh Barezi is the head of the security of Minab prison and has beaten prisoners several times already. Previously, he had beaten a prisoner on the verge of death, and after complaining by the prisoner he was sent to compulsory leave. He has is returned to duty very recently, however again first handcuffed Afshin Sohrabzadeh and then beat him”.
This informed source added, “Mr. Salehi threw Afshin Sohrabzade’s personal accessories to the corridor and said to him that he had to sleep there after that, and he would react on any prisoner who would give his bed to him”.
During recent weeks this prisoner has been transferred to medical centers outside of prison, due to his critical condition, and every time returned without proper medical treatment.
Breathing problems and the physical condition of Afshin Sohrabzadeh, caused by cancer, has worsened and he vomits blood. He reached the brink of suffocation on May 21, in a way that he used three oxygen sprays.
It is 5 months that there is no physician in this prison’s clinic.
According to the documents, which has been provided for HRANA, the prison authorities have confirmed Afshin Sohrabzadeh’s “colon cancer”. According to these documents the warden of Minab prison has clearly mentioned that at least once Afshin has survived from the death because of his disease. The officials have stressed the need for immediate transfer to a medical center outside of prison, and also has requested him to be held in a bigger and more equipped prison for the rest of his sentence.
On May 19, 2016, fourteen Human rights organizations released a joint statement, expressing deep concern about the dire condition of political prisoner Afshin Sohrabzadeh, who is dealing with cancer and illness in Minab prison, where he was exiled. The undersigned organizations highlighted the lack of medical attention threatening Afshin Sohrabzadeh’s life and demanded that the Iranian authorities allow for a just trial according to the Iranian laws and provide him the urgent medical attention that he needs.
Mr. Sohrabzadeh who had sewn his lips to go on hunger strike to protest against the prevention of sending him on medical leave on 11th April, now is suffering from respiratory problems and internal bleeding, and by considering the improvement in his disease and lack of medical care, he is getting close to death day by day.
HRANA had already reported that Afshin Sohrabzadeh was transferred to the prison’s clinic and the doctor issued a letter for his transfer to a hospital, but the security authorities of Minab prison ignored it, and this caused the protest by the prisoners and even the warden.
This prisoner’s weight has decreased to 40 kg and his condition is getting worse and serious day by day, but despite the doctors’ advice, judicial authorities, Minab prosecutor and prison authorities of this city, prevent him from being transferred to a hospital outside the Hormozgan province.
Need to be mentioned, Amnesty international issued a statement recently and demanded consideration about the condition of Afshin Sohrabzadeh, ill political prisoner who has been exiled to Minab, and is suffering from digestion and breathing problems.
HRANA had reported earlier that despite his family’s follow-up after the early summer last year and paying 40 million IRR, the prisoner who had been transferred to Evin prison for medical treatment, after a few months without any proper treatment was returned to Minab prison due to high cost of the treatment (about 700 million IRR) and the inability of his family in paying this amount. Returning the prisoner to the former place cost his family 12 million IRR.
Afshin Sohrabzadeh underwent an intestinal surgery last year which was unsuccessful and led to internal bleeding.
Last year his family offered a deposit of 2 billion IRR paying for the bail to send him to leave which met the disagreement of Minab prison. They also tried to request a leave for Afshin Sohrabzadeh again this year by putting off a deed, which faced again the rejection of authorities in Minab prison.
It should be noted despite the high cost of treatment and medication and the inability of family to afford it, the prisoner because of confiscation of his identification documents at the time of arrest, is deprived of having the health insurance.
Afshin Sohrabzadeh is born in 1990. In June 8, 2009, he was arrested by the intelligence authorities of Kamyaran near the dam of Gavoshan in the road on a coach on charges of fleeing the country to join one of the Kurdish parties.