Ganji Transfered to a Hospital

Adnkronos International:

The jailed Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji, who has been on hunger strike for the past 35 days, was transferred to Tehran's Milad Hospital from Evin prison on Monday, according to his daughter, who was quoted by the Iranian news agency, IRNA. "No judicial sources informed us on the issue," said Rezvaneh Ganji, who added that her family found out from other sources.

In an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI) on 4 July, Ganji's wife, Massoumeh Shafieh had said that her husband was in a critical condition, having lost almost 20 kilograms and was unable to stand on his feet. READ MORE

Ganji has been serving a six-year jail term since January 2001 for publishing articles allegedly exposing the involvement of government officials in the murder of intellectuals and journalists in the 1990s. He was convicted of jeopardising state security and slandering Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Ganji was allowed to leave temporarily on 29 May to seek medical attention as he suffers from acute asthma. He was imprisoned again two weeks later and began a hunger strike.

According to IRNA, the spokesman for the Association Advocating Freedom of Press, Mashallah Shamsolvaezin said Ganji was transferred to Tehran Milad Hospital on Monday for a medical check-up and treatment. He said the Iranian journalist was admitted to the hospital on Sunday as he had lost a lot of weight due to his hunger strike.

The spokesman also said that Ganji was due to be hospitalised on July 19 after a recent agreement made by the Association and Iranian judiciary officials.

"We hope the Ganji issue will be settled at the lowest cost because any event can result in repercussions inside and outside the country," he said.

The United States, European Union and other international human rights organisations have all called for his release.