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Jailed Iranian Blogger In Grave Condition, His Father Reports
Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki

Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki
March 30, 2011
The jailed Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki is in grave condition in Tehran's Evin prison, his father has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

Ahmad Ronaghi-Maleki told Radio Farda on March 29 that his son suffers from kidney problems and needs to undergo surgery immediately.

Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki, 24, was arrested in December 2009 in the crackdown following mass protests against that summer's disputed presidential election.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges that include spreading propaganda against the regime and cooperating with an Iran-based group that works to counter Internet filtering.

Ronaghi-Maleki has denied all the charges brought against him, his father said.

"Neither Hossein's lawyer, nor his family was at court when the sentence was issued," he said.

Ronaghi-Maleki spent more than a year in solitary confinement in a ward run by Revolutionary Guards in Evin prison before being transferred to Section 350, where he is currently serving his sentence.

His father said that one of Hossein's kidneys became infected while he was in solitary confinement.

Ahmad Ronaghi-Maleki also said his son was under pressure to make televised confessions but refused to do so.

He added this might be the reason why the judicial authorities are not allowing Hossein to leave prison for medical treatment.