Nov 3, 7:22 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States accused Iran on Thursday of mistreating a jailed journalist so badly his health was at serious risk, in a case that has drawn worldwide condemnation of the Islamic republic.
Washington, which is locked in a dispute with Iran over Tehran's suspected pursuit of a nuclear bomb and persistently complains about its human rights record, said Akbar Ganji's wife and nongovernmental groups reported his deteriorating health.
"His maltreatment at the hands of his captors has led him to the point where his health is at serious risk," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
McCormack said he did not know what health problem Ganji had developed nor whether it was life-threatening.
The United States, the European Union, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and human rights groups have called for Ganji's release. He was jailed in 2000 after writing a series of articles linking senior officials to the murder of political dissidents.
Ganji also fell gravely ill in July, weakened by a hunger strike aimed at persuading authorities to free him.
Iran has rejected calls for his release and told foreign countries not to meddle.
The Iranian judiciary has faced domestic and international criticism for its poor human rights record while judiciary officials say they have been trying hard to reform.
With the United States at odds with Iran over its nuclear programs, anti-Israel policies and rights record, a senior State Department official acknowledged Thursday's pressure could lead to retaliation against Ganji.
"Our calculation is that this is an important moment to focus" international attention on his case, said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to be able to elaborate on the public U.S. position.
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