Political prisoner, Arash Sadeghi was born in 1979. He is a former student activist who was ousted from Allameh Tabatabaie University. His wife is Golrokh Ibrahimi Iraee.
Arash was arrested in 2009 during the protests against the outcome of presidential election and was freed on bail.
In late winter of 2010 he was once again arrested and freed on bail a month later. His mother suffered a heart attack during the nocturnal raid by security forces at their home to arrest Arash and died.
For the third time he was arrested on January 15, 2012 and freed on bail again.
The forth arrest took place on September 6, 2014. He was arrested along with his wife and two of his friends. Arash was transferred to Ward 2A of Evin Prison which is under the control of IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) and was freed on a 700 million tomans bail seven months later.
In 2015 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charge of ‘gathering and collusion against national security, propagating against the Nezam, disseminating lies on cyberspace and offending khomeini’ by (the notorious) judge, Salavati. Adding a 4-year suspended jail term his sentence is 19 years in jail.
He is indicted with these charges for supporting students who were ousted out of the university, visiting families of those slain during 2009 protests, participating in peaceful gatherings such the gathering to protest prison guards’ raid at ward 350 of Evin prison in 2014, protesting the execution of (political prisoner) Gholamreza Khosravi and supporting Narges Mohammadi.
He was arrested on June 7, 2016, to serve his 19 years in jail and was taken to Quarantine section of ward 4 at Evin Prison.
In mid-fall of 2016 he went on hunger strike for 71 days in protest to the violent arrest of his wife, Golrokh Ibrahimi Iraee.
As a result of this long hunger strike he suffered from stomach ulcer and colitis. As he couldn’t have proper food at the prison and for the lack of medical treatment he lost lots of weigh and he is in pain.
Amnesty International and human rights organizations have demanded him and his wife’s unconditional freedom.
Arash is currently confined at saloon 10 of ward 4 at Gohardasht (Rajaee_Shahr) Prison.
He is suffering from a deformation in his arm which is the result of being battered at Intelligence (Ministry’s) detention center. As he was detained and didn’t receive any medical treatment, the damage turned to a cancerous tumor and eventually bone cancer.
On August 25, 2018, Arash Sadeghi was deployed to hospital and had a brain scan. The result of biopsy showed chondrosarcoma. The doctors affirmed that on August 30 and said that he is suffering from chondrosarcoma cancer in his arm and jugum. Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor or malignant bone cancer and is formed of cartilage cells. On September 15, 2018, after he had a biopsy he was returned to Rajaee_Shahr Prison without being hospitalized for rest or treatment. He has a lot of pain. The tumor must be checked and be replaced with artificial parts or he must undergo other treatments.
As a pretext for the limitations and pressures imposed on this political prisoner, Ziaee, Rajaee Shar Prison’s warden has said: “Whatever takes place at the political ward of Rajaee_Shahr Prison, from protest to sit-in, etc. he is responsible for it. He hasn’t learned his lesson being transferred to Rajaee_Shahr Prison. He must correct his behavior.”
On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Mr. Sadeghi was deployed to hospital for treatment. As he was too weak, and having in mind prison conditions, the physicians didn’t find chemotherapy suitable for him. They told him that he has to be under their watch so that if the tumor regrows he must be operated on. But his treatment wasn’t completed.
In early fall of 2019, Amnesty International expressed its concern for his life and proclaimed that the deliberate deprivation of medical care imposed on Arash Sadeghi is counted as torture according to international laws.
Defender of human rights, Arash Sadeghi, is deliberately deprived of treatment for a cancer that has caused him so much pain and suffering; this is torture. His life is in danger.
On Saturday morning, November 9, 2019, Mrs. Golrokh Ibrahimi Iraee, his wife was detained by security forces at her home to serve her term and was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin; one of the most notorious women prisons in Iran.
Arash Sadeghi is currently confined at Rajaee_Shahr Prison and is deprived of meeting his wife.
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