RSF Says UN Should Press Legal Rights Of Jailed Iran Journalists

International non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the United Nations Wednesday to take swift action to ensure Iran followed “international human rights law” over the treatment of jailed journalists.

“The advocacy group is alarmed about imprisoned journalists who are denied medical care when they are ill,” RSF said, referring to activist Narges Mohammadi and photojournalist Alieh Motalebzadeh, who are in Qarchak women’s prison, also known as Shahr-e Rey, where health and sanitary conditions are poor and the infirmary ill-equipped.

“Under international human rights law, Iran’s prison authorities have an absolute obligation to ensure the health and well-being of detainees placed under their control by providing them with appropriate, adequate and timely medical care,” said Reza Moini, head of RSF’s Iran-Afghanistan desk.

Mohammadi’s lawyer Mostafa Nili said Tuesday that his client had been deprived of medicine for a week, including pills prescribed after a heart operation.

Reza Khandan Mahabadi, a 60-year-old journalist, was also returned to his prison cell April 5 despite respiratory problems after being hospitalized in January with a severe case of Covid-19.