The health of Mohammad Khodkam, a prisoner in Bukan, West Azerbaijan Province, has been deteriorating since he initiated a hunger strike on 20 December 2023.
The prisoner’s protest stems from the decision of Branch Two of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad, which sentenced him to 17 years in prison and imposed a fine of 1.8 billion rials (approximately 3,600 USD) on drug-related charges.
Following the commencement of his hunger strike, Khodkam was transferred to solitary confinement on 24 December and has been denied the right to communicate with or meet his family.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that Khodkam has experienced a drop in blood pressure and weight loss during the 14-day hunger strike. Despite his worsening health, both prison officials and the local court have yet to address his plea for a fair trial.
Khodkam, a resident of Bukan, was arrested on 9 June 2023 by the Criminal Investigation Department, which claimed to have found a package of drugs near his family’s home. However, he has consistently denied these allegations since his arrest.
