Jailed teacher association head in critical condition

Jaras Website

Hashem Khastar, a retired teacher in Mashhad and head of the Teacher's Association in Mashhad has been denied a medical leave after 8 months of prison despite his heart problems.
In the past few days, his heart problem and high blood pressure has led to damage in his retina which has severely weakened his eyesight. His friends and family have made many attempts to get him a medical leave so that he would receive treatment outside of prison but the Mashhad Revolutionary Court and security institutions have refused to grant him a leave.
Security institutions have said they will grant his leave only if he completely ceases his political activities.
Khastar has refused to back down and has said that suffering from his illness is easier than choosing any option put to him by security institutions.
According to the law, all prisoners are allowed to request a leave after two months of prison and the prison is obliged to agree with the leave