Kurdish political prisoner Motaleb Ahmadian goes on hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin Prison
Hengaw: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Motaleb Ahmadian, a 42-year-old Kurdish political prisoner from Baneh, has begun a hunger strike in Evin Prison to protest the denial of medical leave and the systematic withholding of treatment for his critical health conditions.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Ahmadian, who is held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison, began his hunger strike on Monday, May 5, 2025, after Tehran’s prosecutor rejected his request to suspend his sentence for urgent medical care. He is currently in the 15th year of a 30-year sentence.
Ahmadian suffers from multiple serious health issues, including a duodenal tumor, spinal fractures, and heart palpitations. He requires several complex surgeries and prolonged recovery outside prison. Despite posting a five-billion-toman bail and securing guarantees from seven lawyers and government employees, his request for temporary release was denied.
In previous years, Ahmadian underwent intestinal surgery but was returned to prison before completing treatment, resulting in complications such as infection, abdominal swelling, and fluid buildup in the lungs. He also underwent partial testicular surgery in December 2022, again without sufficient post-operative care.
His lawyer has repeatedly applied for sentence suspension due to the worsening of his medical condition. However, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi— acting under pressure from the Ministry of Intelligence—has rejected all requests, despite assessments from the prison clinic and forensic doctors deeming Ahmadian unfit to serve his sentence.
Although his family had secured the required bail, authorities later demanded a higher amount, which the family was unable to pay.
Ahmadian was arrested on October 5, 2010, on charges of “Waging war against God (moharebeh)” due to alleged membership in the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan and was sentenced to 30 years in exile in Minab Prison. Over the years, he has been held in multiple facilities, including Saqqez, Sanandaj, Rajai Shahr, and currently Evin Prison. He has also received over 10 additional years in prison for separate cases involving border crossing, assault, and an alleged murder, along with financial penalties.
