Yunes Al-Sarakhi, a poet and political prisoner in Shiban prison in Ahvaz is in serious health condition after a year of imprisonment. Still, the prison authorities have denied him medical treatment.
He has breathing problems and pain in his ribs and chest however prison authorities have denied him medical leave and access to medical treatment.
Prisoners in Ward 5 of Shiban Prison protested the authorities’ denial of treatment for Yunes Al-Sarkhi and clashed with officers on Tuesday.
An informed source said: “A tumor has developed in Yunes’ chest and his condition is critical. He needs medical treatment, but the chief and the jailer do not allow him to receive treatment.”
The source said: “The prisoners in Ward 5 gathered on Tuesday and demanded the prison authorities to provide treatment for sick prisoners, especially Yunes.”
Withholding medical treatment is a common tactic used by Iranian authorities to put pressure on political prisoners.
Amnesty International, United Nations Experts, and other human rights organizations have documented numerous occasions on which authorities deprived prisoners in Iran of needed care.
While the actual number is unknown, at least three political prisoners died due to inadequate medical treatment or ill-treatment in Iran in 2021 including Adel Kianpour, Sasan Niknafs, and Behman Mahjoubi.
