“Release My Father For Medical Treatment,” Asks Kaboudvand’s Daughter

Tonya Kaboudvand, daughter of Kurdish human rights activist Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand, spoke with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about her last visit with her father in Evin Prison. “I couldn’t recognize my father during my last visit with him. Since my previous visit with him two weeks ago, he had lost more than 20 pounds. His face frightened me. He had aged and appeared sick. He spoke with difficulty and told us about his constant dizziness and the pain in the back of his head. He had problems with his vision and he had a nervous tick,” she said.

Regarding the prison’s medical care condition, Tonya Kaboudvand said, “The condition of prison medical care is not satisfactory at all. My father said that a doctor from the Women’s Ward examined him, advising him that he has severe blood pressure fluctuations. My father has written several letters to the Prosecutor, Mr. Jafari, but prison authorities have not allowed his letters to leave the prison. During the visits we had through the booth, he read a letter to us and we wrote it down.”

“During the past four years, we have delivered more than 100 documented letters to the Judiciary requesting leave for my father so that he can leave the prison for a few days to seek medical treatment and spend a few days with his family outside the prison. None of those requests have been granted. First they said that my father would have to serve 1/3 of his sentence before he can go on furlough. Now they say we would have to post $100,000 for each year [of his sentence], the total of which will be $1.1 million. We cannot raise such a heavy bail,” she said of the family’s efforts to improve her father’s conditon.

Regarding limitations imposed on Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand during his imprisonment, his daughter said, “During these years they have imposed several limitations on my father. A small example of it is the reduction of his telephone privileges. He used to be able to call home for two minutes everyday.  Now he can only call home for two minutes once every week. During all these years, we have only been able to have in-person visitations with him three times. My father was involved in human rights work and invited everyone to peaceful conduct. What has he done to be denied the least rights? His physical condition is seriously worrisome and we demand a medical leave for him to seek treatment.”