Kaboodvand, Jailed rights activist on hunger strike close to death

Mohammad Sedigh Kaboodvand jailed Iranian joualist and activist is approaching 30 days on hunger strike and doctors have been trying to prevent him from going into cardiac arrest. His potassium levels dropping to dangerously low levels.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on that despite the gravity of his health the judiciary has not made any attempts at addressing the protesting political prisoners’ demands.

Since winter of 2015, Kaboodvand has been repeatedly summoned to court and slapped with new charges. He has denied all the charges and since May 8, Kaboodvand begun a hunger strike in protest to the judiciary’s failure to consolidate the proceedings.

Low potassium levels due to the persistent hunger strike are causing blood cloths and putting Kaboodvand at immediate danger of cardiac arrest.

The political activist was hospitalized on the 13th day of his hunger strike when his health had already taken a tu for the worse but was retued to Evin Prison on May 22.

Mohammad Sedigh Kaboodvand was arrested in July of 2007 for “acting against national security” by ruing the Kurdistan Human Rights Organization and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was also sentenced to an additional year in jail for “propaganda against the regime”.

Kaboodvand’s publishing of Payam-e Mardom weekly magazine also eaed him another year in prison and five years ban from media activities.

New charges have now been laid against Kaboodvand in coection with publishing a booklet regarding women’s rights and the violation of these rights in Iran.

Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi issued a statement on Tuesday May 31 drawing attention to Kaboodvand’s dire situation and calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

Many Iranian political prisoners in recent years have chosen to go on hunger strike and seriously compromise their health in protest to the failure of the judiciary to address their challenges against the justice system.