Political prisoner Soheil Arabi experienced serious heart problem on Saturday, March 21, and was transferred to the dispensary of the Greater Tehran Penitentiary. He was supposed to be sent to hospital but prison authorities have prevented it.
Mr. Arabi has been told that there are no soldiers and ambulances in the prison, and he must be transferred to hospital under severe security measures.
Soheil Arabi has been on hunger strike since March 16 to protest inhuman conditions in prison and his continued detention.
Mr. Arabi’s blood pressure is 5 over 6. His blood sugar has dropped so much that doctors say he might go into a sugar coma if he continues his hunger strike.
Political prisoner Soheil Arabi has been denied medical treatment despite having bad coughs and suffering from terrible pain due to “blunt trauma” and internal infection. In light of serious physical damage and heavy pain, Mr. Arabi is in need of receiving treatment and surgical operation.
A source informed about the conditions of political prisoner Soheil Arabi said: “Soheil Arabi is detained in a ward which does not have suitable ventilation and no access to fresh air. He is prevented from going to the prison’s library and from teaching in prison. Some time ago, it was declared that political prisoners are not qualified to teach. Published books and newspapers which had been sent to him with permission, were not handed over to him.”
Political prisoner Soheil Arabi had been sent to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hospital on Wednesday, March 18, but the hospital did not admit him and he was returned to prison without being examined.
The Prisons Organization has not paid its debt to the Khomeini Hospital. The Greater Tehran Penitentiary has not paid the medical expenses of its prisoners, and this is why the hospital does not admit sick prisoners from GTP.
