64-year old Sunni prisoner in critical condition, denied medical treatment
25-August-2014
Category: religious minorities
Breathing in Confinement – Prison officials at Iran’s Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj have prevented a 64-year old Sunni prisoner from receiving adequate medical care despite his rapidly deteriorating health condition.
According to the report of “Breathing in Confinement”, Sunni prisoner of conscience Keykhosro Sharifipour has been suffering from an unknown illness since 6 August 2014, and has been unable to eat for at least 15 days. His condition is deteriorating rapidly, and in the last few days he has had difficulty even drinking water.
Prison officials have refused to transfer him to a properly equipped medical center outside of the prison, despite the prison’s infirmary doctors declaring that he is in urgent need of hospitalization.
Keykhosrow Sharifipour was arrested in 2010, shortly after the death of his son, Zaniar Sharifipour, who was killed by Iranian security forces in Sanandaj on 13 June 2010.
Keykhosrow Sharifipour, who was active in preaching Sunni beliefs in the Shia-majority Iran, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment under the pretext of ‘Moharabeh (enmity against God) through the support of Salafi groups’.