Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
Iranwire – Osman Ismaili, a prominent 67-year-old labor activist in Kurdistan, is at risk of permanent spinal cord injury and paralysis due to a lack of medical attention in prison.
According to a statement from his defense committee, Ismaili suffers from a severe narrowing of the spinal canal and urgently requires surgery.
The committee also warned that his condition could lead to permanent paralysis if left untreated.
Ismaili is currently serving a 16-month sentence in Saqqez prison.
He has been transferred between prisons multiple times, including a stint in Sanandaj Central Prison, despite having pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and rheumatism.
His recent move to Saqqez prison has further exacerbated his vision and hearing problems.
Despite his documented medical needs, prison authorities have failed to provide Ismaili with appropriate treatment.
Attempts to transfer him to a facility with better surgical capabilities have been unsuccessful due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Ismaili was initially arrested by Saqqez security forces in February 2023 and held for three months in Sanandaj Intelligence Department detention. He was later released on bail.
In August 2023, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for participating in the funeral of Mahsa Amini and on charges of membership in the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, a group that opposes the Islamic Republic.
Ismaili has denied any affiliation with the party.
