Kurdish-Syrian prisoner unconscious in Iran

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Ramazan Ahmad Kamal, the Kurdish-Syrian prisoner in Rajai Shahr Prison in Iran was transported to a hospital on Wednesday.

Kamal lost his consciousness on Wednesday and has been hospitalized since then, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

The first hospital Kamal was taken to, Sasan Hospital, refused the patient because of his severe conditions. Even after the head of the hospital accepted the patient, the hospital still refused him, saying they didn’t have a bed available for new patients. After making Kamal wait for hours, they were sent to another hospital.

The prisoner is reportedly now in the emergency ward of the Emam Khomeini Hospital in Karaj, some 50 kilometers northwest of Tehran.

Kamal is originally from Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan). Iranian forces arrested him and four other men in 2008 when they unintentionally entered Iranian borders. The men were allegedly members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Kamal was shot five times at the time of his arrest and his right hand was severely injured. Lack of medical attention had deteriorated the muscles of his hand and the severe infection of the wound deteriorated his health.

Kamal, who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, has so far been transported between Mahabad, Ghazvin, Evin and Rajai Shahr prisons located in western provinces in Iran.

According to Iranian laws, prisoners should receive medical attention when they need it but Iran does not follow international law or its own laws.