Mahabad Prison – Denial of Medical Leave for Kurdish Political Prisoner Ashkan Fahim
Ashkan Fahim, a Kurdish political prisoner serving his sentence in Mahabad Prison, has been denied medical leave despite suffering from multiple illnesses.
According to a source informed by Kurdpa, this political prisoner from Mahabad suffers from several health problems, including heart disease, impaired vision, and chronic headaches.
The source added that the prison doctor has confirmed Fahim’s vision problems and has issued multiple written requests for him to be referred to an ophthalmologist outside the prison, but the responsible authorities have rejected these requests.
The source also stated that Fahim’s repeated requests for conditional release have been denied by security agencies without any explanation.
Previously, the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Mahabad had also opposed his request for medical leave.
Ashkan Fahim, a Kurdish literary and cultural activist, was sentenced by Branch 1 of the Mahabad Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Doosti, to 45 months in prison and two years of exile to the city of Arak on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the state.”
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Fahim was transferred from one of the IRGC’s detention centers in Urmia to Urmia Prison and later to Mahabad Prison.
At dawn on Friday, September 15, 2023, civil activist Reza Andisheh and literary-cultural activist Ashkan Fahim were arrested when over 60 armed IRGC intelligence agents raided Fahim’s home. The IRGC forces surrounded the street, broke the doors and windows of his residence, and severely beat the two men with rifle butts before arresting them while they were injured and bleeding.
According to a source informed by Kurdpa, the beating was so severe that Fahim was wrapped in a blanket before being taken to one of the IRGC’s security detention centers in Urmia.
Reza Andisheh was transferred to Mahabad Prison on Monday, October 16, 2023, one month after the violent arrest, and was later temporarily released on bail.
