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Family Fears For Health Of Former Tehran University Chancellor


Mohmmad Maleki
Mohmmad Maleki
The family of Mohammad Maleki, the former chancellor of Tehran University, has expressed serious concern over his health in prison.

The 76-year-old Maleki was arrested about six months ago while being treated for prostrate cancer. Maleki's family have said that he was already in poor health at the time of his arrest in August.

His son, Amar Maleki, told RFE/RL that prison officials recently asked the family for chemotherapy drugs that they delivered to the prison. Maleki's son said the family has not been allowed to meet him in prison for more than 20 days, adding to the concern of the family over his health.

Maleki's family has been informed by recently released prisoners that he cannot walk anymore without help .

His son said that Maleki has complained about his poor health in telephone calls from Tehran's Evin prison, where he's being held. Maleki's family are calling for support from human rights groups around the world "to save the life" of Mohammad Maleki.

Maleki, an outspoken critic of the Iranian establishment, has been jailed a number of times in recent years, and he has reportedly spent several months in solitary confinement.

Before his arrest, he criticized the conduct of last year's presidential vote in Iran. Following the disputed election that led to massive street protests, over 2,000 political activists, journalists, students, and human rights advocates have been arrested in Iran.

-- Golnaz Esfandiari

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