HRANA News Agency – The respiratory problems of Afshin Sohrabzadeh, political prisoner suffering from cancer in Minab prison, progressed and his health condition deteriorated and he coughed blood on April 20, he reached the brink of suffocation. In this jail, it is 5 months that the doctor is not present in the clinic.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Afshin Sohrabzadeh, exiled political prisoner in Minab prison who suffers from cancer and severe internal bleeding and breathing problems, was once more in a critical health condition.

An informed source close to the political prisoner in conversation with a reporter of HRANA said: “On April 20, respiratory problem of Afshin intensified so that he had to use three oxygen sprays and was on the verge of suffocation.”

The source said that there was no doctors in Minab prison for five months and then added: “In Minab prison there are only care takers whose job is injections and can do nothing else. The infection has reached Afshin’s lungs and he coughs blood.”

According to the documents which has been provided to HRANA, prison officials confirmed the “colon cancer” of Afshin Sohrabzadeh and that Mr. Sohrabzadeh at least once had been rescued from certain death from the. The officials emphasize the need to transfer him immediately to a medical center outside of prison and also demand that Mr. Sohrabzadeh serves his sentence in a larger and better-equipped prison.

Mr. Sohrabzadeh who once in a protest against the denial of medical leave on April 11 by sewing his lips had gone on hunger strike and is now experiencing respiratory problems and internal bleeding, including advanced disease and lack of medical attention gets closer to death every day.

HRANA had already reported that on April 22, 2016, 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 was charged with waging war against God through membership in opposition parties in a 5-minute-long court in Branch 2 of Sanandaj court by Judge Tayari and was sentenced to 25 years in prison and exile to Minab prison. His sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.