Mar 19, 2008

Southern Azerbaijan: Lisani’s Health Worsens


Despite an appeal on 10 March 2008, Abbas Lisani remains in detention and the authorities continue to restrict medical access.

Despite an appeal on 10 March 2008, Abbas Lisani remains in detention and the authorities continue to restrict medical access.

Below is an appeal issued by the Committee for the Defense of Abbas Lisani:

It is now 13 days since the commencement of the hunger strike by Abbas Leysanli as a last resort for protesting against Iranian authorities, who used violence and deported him from Eher prison, in the vicinity of his hometown, to the remote location of the central Yazd prison.

According to our authentic information sources, his physical conditions are deteriorating rapidly. He is already suffering from kidney problems for enduring physical torture over the times in the past and undergoing long periods of hunger strikes. His health has been undermined for being denied of the right of access to medical care.

Prison authorities not only deny him access to a medical care but exert psychological pressure on him. He has now been transferred to the quarantine unit of the central Yazd prison, which is deemed unsuitable for looking after a patient with kidney problems let alone a person under a hunger strike. Notwithstanding the deprivation from all these basic human rights, he family members have been denied of the right of access to visit him.

The Committee for the Defence of Abbas Leysanli appeals to you all organisations and individuals active on the defense of human rights and urges you to mobilise your campaign as soon as possible. Active international campaign has sustained the safety of this prisoner of conscience so far and only your active campaign shall ensure his safety towards the reinstatement of his human rights, as well as secure him urgent medical care of vital importance