Iranian of the Day

Radio Zamaneh: Political prisoner Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand is continuing with his hunger strike after more than a month of refusing food, his wife reported after a recent visit with him.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reports that Parinaz Baghban Hassani said her husband told her that he will not stop his hunger strike until the authorities grant him leave to visit his sick son.

The jailed human rights activist reportedly appeared very sick and weak but he was determined to continue with his protest.

Kaboudvand broke an earlier hunger strike at the urging of authorities, who promised him a furlough, but they broke that promise after he complied.

The family is extremely concerned about the jailed activist’s health and fear that he might suffer a fatal health crisis, as happened to another political prisoner, Hoda Saber, who died from a heart attack while he was on a hunger strike.

Kaboudvand has reportedly been transferred to the infirmary on several occasions.

Kaboodvand’s wife has urged the authorities to comply with the Islamic Republic’s own legal provisions, which allow prisoners to go on leave and visit their families.

The state coroner has already declared Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand to be medically unfit to serve out his sentence, but the judiciary has refused to heed the evaluation.

In 2007, authorities arrested Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, Secretary of Kurdistan Human Rights Organization and manager of the publication Payam-e Mardom. A year later, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 11 years in prison on charges of “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” He has been deprived of basic prisoner rights such as furlough, in-person visitation, and suitable and timely medical treatment.