Mir Hossein Mousavi
April 29, 2014–Former presidential candidate and opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has been held extra-judicially under house arrest for more than three years, was taken to hospital today for urgent heart complications, according to reports from Iran that the Campaign has independently confirmed.
Mousavi, 72, who suffers from cardiac problems, was transferred to Tehran’s Heart Hospital’s intensive care unit surrounded by heavy security. Doctors say Mousavi needs to undergo a heart angioplasty procedure.
“Mousavi’s life is now being endangered by his continued detention,” said Campaign Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi. “The Iranian government and judiciary is demonstrating complete contempt for the rule of law; it must release Mousavi and the other opposition leaders immediately.”
According to kalame.com, an opposition news website close to Mousavi, doctors had demanded urgent treatment for Mousavi several months ago but security officials refused to allow it.
About two months ago Mousavi underwent tests after he showed signs of irregular blood pressure and nausea but security officials have not released the results of the tests to his family.
“The routine denial of medical treatment for political prisoners is a blatant violation of Iranian and international law. Mousavi must receive full treatment—as should all the other political prisoners in Iran,” said Ghaemi.
The Campaign calls on the authorities to ensure that Mousavi not be released from hospital until his doctors confirm that he has received complete treatment and his recovery is medically confirmed.
The Campaign also reiterates its long-standing call for the immediate release of Mousavi, Karroubi and Rahnavard, and reminds the Rouhani administration of the ruling by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calling for the release of the opposition leaders.
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two former presidential candidates, and Mousavi’s wife, Zahra Rahnavard, have been under extra-judicial house arrest without charge since February 2011 for leading the Green Movement, which emerged after the disputed presidential election in June 2009.
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