Mohammed Hassan Fallahiya
Journalist
Mohammed Hassan Fallahiya, a member of Iran's Arab minority, is a journalist and managing editor of Aqlam al-Talaba, a student publication of Ahvaz University, Khuzestan province. Mohammad Hassan Fallahiya was arrested in November 2006, after writing articles criticising the Iranian government and reportedly contacting opposition groups based abroad. On 21 April 2007, Fallahiya was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour. He was not allowed legal representation throughout the judicial process, and is reportedly held in Section 209 of Evin Prison, Tehran, where he is at risk of torture and ill-treatment. Fallahiya suffers from sickle cell anaemia (a blood disorder that affects red blood cells), and heart problems, and is reportedly denied adequate medical care. The prison authorities have prevented his family from bringing supplies of his medication to the prison and it is feared that his health is deteriorating.