Balochistan: Elderly Scholar Denied Medical Leave Amid Health Decline

DOZZAAP (ZAHEDAN): A prominent Baloch cleric and Imam of Rask, Mawlana Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, is facing a rapid decline in health while imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad in Iran.

Reports indicate that Naqshbandi, who suffers from heart disease, diabetes, and severe vision problems, is at risk of partial or even complete blindness. His family has expressed growing concern over the inadequate medical care he is receiving as his health continues to deteriorate.

Despite his urgent need for treatment, Naqshbandi’s request for medical leave has been denied by prison authorities, according to the Baloch Activists Campaign.

The “Kalameh” network has also confirmed that his request was rejected, and he has not been transferred to a medical facility for proper care.

Sources report that Naqshbandi urgently requires medical attention, but the prison has yet to take necessary steps to address his condition.

Naqshbandi’s family has raised alarms over his deteriorating health, emphasising that the lack of appropriate medical treatment is putting his life at risk. They have called for immediate action to ensure his human rights are respected and that he receives the medical care he needs.

Mawlana Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi was arrested on August 20, 2023, by Iranian forces while travelling from Rask to Chabahar City in Iranian-occupied Balochistan.

After completing his interrogation, he was transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Naqshbandi was sentenced to five years in prison by the Special Clerical Court, a verdict upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court.

The growing concerns over Naqshbandi’s health highlight the ongoing struggle of prisoners of conscience in Iran, particularly those with serious health conditions who lack access to proper medical care.

His family and supporters continue to demand that he receive the necessary treatment and that his case be addressed fairly and transparently.