Iranian prisoner maimed in testicle, denied medical treatment, may die

Discussion in 'Middle East' started by kazenatsu, Mar 17, 2021.

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  1. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Soheil Arabi was sentenced to death in Iran in 2013 on charges of insulting the Prophet Mohammad in a posts on Facebook. (The posts were related to the imprisonment of another political activist named Atena Daemi). His sentence was later in 2015 commuted to several years imprisonment, and two years of mandatory study of Islamic theology upon release.

    However, in prison, Arabi was kicked by one of the guards in his groin, almost crushing one of his testicles. A doctor in the prison, after examining him, said the testicle needed to be removed right away. However, Arabi says he has been denied adequate medical care, and he might now die.

    Soheil Arabi explained about his illness:
    "After writing and publishing an article about the conditions of prisoners detained in ward 1 of the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, I was transferred to Ward 1A of the IRGC Sarallah Garrison. The interrogator there got mad after asking a few questions and kicked me hard in the testicles. When I came to, I was in Firouzabadi Hospital. The physician told me that I had suffered a blunt trauma for which I must be operated on as soon as possible to remove my left testicle. After eight months, however, I have not been sent to hospital. Infection has spread to other parts of my body and I feel severe pain in the legs."

    Prison authorities claimed that they have lost Arabi's medical file.

    That beating happened in April 2019.

    To protest the authorities' failure to deliver on their promise to send him to a civic hospital,
    Arabi started a hunger strike, which began on April 4, 2020. As of the writing of the below article, he was in dire health conditions. On April 10, his blood pressure suddenly dropped. He had seizures and subsequently went unconscious. He was transferred to Tehran's Firouzabadi Hospital, but was returned to prison the next morning. Doctors warned against the danger of Arabi going into a coma.

    Political prisoner Soheil Arabi transferred to unknown location - Iran HRM (iran-hrm.com)


    He had previously been beaten during interrogations. Haj Moradi, warden of the Greater Tehran Prison, issued orders in June 2018 to have Arabi transferred to ward 2A of the notorious Evin Prison in the country's capital, Tehran. This ward is under the direct control of the Revolutionary Guards and Arabi was placed under constant interrogation. The interrogators placed this political prisoner under torture and he suffered a broken nose that he has been forced to bear ever since. Arabi was initially taken to Khomeini hospital to undergo a surgery. But when he fainted due to severe pain, an agent beat him up again, accusing him of malingering. Subsequently he was returned to GTP and taken to a quarantine ward without receiving any medical treatment.

    Soheil Arabi was sentenced to three more years behind bars increasing his total term to 10 years for engaging in peaceful activism inside the Great Tehran Penitentiary (GTP) where he is being held.
    However, in February 2021, the Prosecutor's Office acquitted Arabi those additional charges of "propaganda activities against the state" that had been brought against him in prison.
    He is still in prison.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2021
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  2. Zorro

    Zorro Well-Known Member

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    PRINCETON GRAD STUDENT BELIEVED HARMONY WITH IRAN WAS POSSIBLE, BUT 40 MONTHS AS A HOSTAGE CHANGED HIS MIND.
     
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  3. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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  4. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    There was NO "approach" even mentioned.

    So, what approach are YOU declaring to be impractical in meeting what goal YOU believe needs to be met???
     
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  5. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    On one level I am referring to giving Iran billions and billions and billions of dollars as was done by President Obama while he was in power.

    President Trump's policy of sanctions on Iran was far more practical and effective.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2021
  6. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    The treaty in question involved the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States) plus Germany.

    The objective was to lay down requirements involving inspections, etc. If those requirements were not met, Iran would have broken a treaty with ALL those countries, who would have been bound to the trade sanctions of ALL those nations.

    The idea that Trump did something better is just plain IGNORANT.

    Those nations are NOT bound to anything Trump did. He acted alone, and thus had FAR less impact.

    For example, there became NO WAY for Trump to enhance leverage against Iran to force solutions that we want. China isn't with us. Russia isn't with us. And, there is no coordinated approach with the normally friendly nations. Further, that fragmentation means that there isn't the significant pressure that could have been applied to nations that were not signatories.

    Trump made it TRIVIALLY easy on Iran after Obama held Iran's feet to the fire.
     
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  7. MGB ROADSTER

    MGB ROADSTER Banned

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    Any update on the subject ? Is he dead ?
     
  8. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The latest news is that, while he was due to be released soon, it looks like they are now trying to keep him in prison longer.

    Soheil Arabi summoned to hearing on same charge he has recently been aquitted for

    On 24 May 2021, Soheil Arabi was summoned to a hearing for the charge of "propaganda activities against the state" via a video conference held by Branch 3 of Evin prison’s court. The evidence being brought against him for this charge is "reporting on the situation of the prison, hunger strike in protest against the deprivation of the political prisoners from medical treatment, and publishing statements about November 2019 general protests in Iran."​

    https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/...ng-same-charge-he-has-recently-been-acquitted
     
  9. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Another update:
    It appears he was finally released, but then was rearrested again.

    Soheil Arabi was detained in relation to nationwide protests against mandatory religious veiling.

    On January 2, 2023, authorities in Tehran arrested Arabi from his home under unclear circumstances. His arrest came amid a crackdown on protestors, civil society, and former political prisoners following nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini and mandatory requirement for veiling of women.

    According to the Freedom From Religon Foundation, he was violently beaten and denied medicine in his own home. (source here)

    Arabi reportedly experienced a heart attack during interrogation and was transferred to Sajjad Hospital.

    He was reportedly held at Fashafouyeh Prison, near Tehran.
    On February 1, 2023, Arabi was reportedly transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj.

    In March 2023, Arabi was released on bail.

    Arabi, who suffers from high blood pressure, was reportedly deprived of medicine while in prison.


    Soheil Arabi was previously imprisoned for blasphemy.
    In late 2013, authorities arrested Arabi, a blogger, photojournalist, and human rights activist, and charged him with “insulting the Prophet Mohamed” for his alleged Facebook activity. United For Iran lists the charges leveled against him at the time as "insulting the Prophet" (Art. 262 IPC), "committing corruption on earth" (Art. 286 IPC), "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC), "insulting Islamic sanctities" (Art. 513 IPC), and “insulting the Supreme Leader” (Art. 514 IPC).

    Previously, on August 30, 2014, Branch 76 of the Tehran Criminal Court had sentenced him to death.
    In June 2015, Branch 24 of the Supreme Court rejected Arabi's death sentence. His case was then referred to Branch 10 of the Tehran General Court.

    https://www.uscirf.gov/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/soheil-arabi
     

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