On July 18, the State Department expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of political prisoners in Iran. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland issued the following statement.
We are concerned by recent reports that Kurdish activist Mohammed Seddigh Kaboudvand and human rights defender Nargess Mohammadi are suffering from rapidly deteriorating health while in prison. Kaboudvand has been on hunger strike since May 26 to protest the Iranian authorities’ refusal to allow him to visit his ill son, and Mohammadi has been denied proper medical care for previous health problems. Both are reportedly in critical condition.
We call upon Iranian authorities to immediately release all political prisoners and to uphold its own laws and international obligations that guarantee freedom of expression, religion, opinion, and assembly for all citizens.
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