25 June 2013
URGENT
Death of Afshin Osanloo in Rajai Shahr Prison in Iran
Dear Ahmad Shahid
I am writing this to inform you that as result of a deliberate withdrawal of medical attention, Afshin Osanloo, a jailed worker and a political prisoner, died in Rajai Shahr Prison in Iran on June 21, 2013. I would like to appeal for an investigation into his death as well as the situation of political prisoners in the notorious Rajai Shahr prison in Iran.
Following months of torture, Afshin Osanloo lost his life as a result of heart attack. According to Afshin’s family, prior to his death, he did not have any record of heart problem. Afshin lost his life as a result of deliberate withdrawal of the necessary medication by the prison officials which caused him suffering a heart attack
Afshin was arrested in 2010 and was frequently tortured. In his letter dated August 2012, Afshin explained that prison guards beat the sole of his feet with cable and forced him to run barefoot immediately after that. He also described how he was subjected to a week-long interrogation, sometime 18 hours each day, while being beaten by a group of men which resulted in his ribs and some teeth being broken.
Withholding an urgently needed medical care from political prisoners has been a widespread practice, as a form of torture and execution, by authorities of the Islamic regime in Iran. Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) has forwarded a report to your office on 11th of January 2013 which documented the situation of political prisoners in Rajaee Shahr prison along with a list of political prisoners who have lost their lives as a result of this practice.
According to the eye witnesses including former political prisoners, in the face of an international condemnation for executing prisoners the regime has changed tactics from execution to silently killing prisoners by depriving them of the medical attention. Hundreds of political prisoners are suffering from medical conditions such as prostate problems, cancer, blood pressure, severe headache, AIDS, arteritis, severe backache, joints disease, kidney problem, skin disease, stomach and intestine problems, depression, mental health problem and other medical conditions. Their medications could be withdrawn and they could be subjected to slow death the same was as Afshin was.
Afshin’s death, once again, refreshed the memories of those political prisoners who died in prison as a result of torture and inhuman condition including deliberate denial of medication and medical attention by the authorities of the Islamic regime.
Afshin’s cellmates in Rajaee Shahr prison have contacted CFPPI to raise concerns about their future, and also to demand that international community to take an urgent action to stop the Islamic regime from killing more political prisoners.
On behalf of the political prisoners in Rajaee Shahr prisoners, I would like to appeal for an urgent action from your office to lobby other international partners and persuade them to send an independent inquiry commission to Iran to investigate:
- The cause of death of Afshin Osanloo
- The condition of Rajai Shahr prison and lack of medical attention which has caused several deaths among political prisoners in Rajai Shahr prison.
Sincerely
Shiva Mahbobi
Spokesperson
Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI)
Attachments:
Afshin Osanloo’s letter
Report on Rajaee Shahr prison: