![\"2017-01-09_20-16-16\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/01\/2017-01-09_20-16-16.png\" "\\"2017-01-09_20-16-16\\"")
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GENEVA ( 9 January 2017) \u2013 The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Ms. Asma Jahangir, today raised alarm over the critical health situation of several prisoners of conscience on prolonged hunger strike in the country.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, at least eight prisoners of conscience have been on life threatening hunger strike in Iran to contest the legality of their detention. Among them are Mr. Saeed Shirzad, Mr. Ali Shariati, Mr. Mohammad Reza Nekounam, Mr. Hassan Rastegari Majd, Mr. Mehdi Koukhian, Mr. Nizar Zakka, and Mr. Mohammed Ali Taheri.<\/p>\n
Another prisoner, Mr. Arash Sadeghi, ended last week the hunger strike he had started on 24 October 2016, after his wife -Ms. Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee- was released on bail.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth Mr. Sadeghi and Ms. Ebrahimi Iraee are human rights defenders who have been imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association,\u201d the expert said<\/p>\n
The Special Rapporteur noted that, despite his critical health condition, Mr. Sadeghi is being denied transfer to specialized medical facilities and is reportedly kept in his cell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that Mr. Arash Sadeghi has access, as a matter of utmost priority, to specialized health care in a hospital outside prison, in compliance with international human rights standards and medical ethics in particular the principles of informed consent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply concerned about the continuous detention of human rights defenders in Iran, who have been tried on the basis of vaguely defined offences and heavily sentenced following trials marred with due process violations,\u201d Ms. Jahangir said. \u201cThey are left with no other option but to put their life at risk to contest the legality of their detention.\u201d<\/p>\n
The United Nations expert pointed out that such a situation persists just a few days after President Rouhani signed the Citizen Rights Charter, which enshrines the right to life, to freedom of opinion, expression and assembly in Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cI urge the Iranian Government to immediately and unconditionally release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and prosecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and for peacefully promoting human rights observance in the country,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n