Amnesty International has urged Turkmenistan's authorities to stop the harassment and intimidation of a prisoner on hunger strike.
In a statement issued on May 22, Amnesty said a prosecutor in Turkmenistan's Lebap Province has threatened Mansur Mingelov, 39, with force-feeding if he continues a hunger strike he launched on May 19.
Mingelov, who began serving a 22-year jail term in 2012 on unclear charges, maintains his innocence, saying a trial against him and his brother was unfair.
He also says he and his brother were severely beaten by investigators and that his other relatives have been intimidated.
The Amnesty statement says force-feeding a mentally competent hunger-striker without medical supervision and without any plausible medical rationale is unjustifiable and could constitute cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
In a statement issued on May 22, Amnesty said a prosecutor in Turkmenistan's Lebap Province has threatened Mansur Mingelov, 39, with force-feeding if he continues a hunger strike he launched on May 19.
Mingelov, who began serving a 22-year jail term in 2012 on unclear charges, maintains his innocence, saying a trial against him and his brother was unfair.
He also says he and his brother were severely beaten by investigators and that his other relatives have been intimidated.
The Amnesty statement says force-feeding a mentally competent hunger-striker without medical supervision and without any plausible medical rationale is unjustifiable and could constitute cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.