Prevention of Zahra Safaei’s Transfer to Hospital Due to Prison Officials’ Pretexts
Hrana News Agency – Zahra Safaei, a political prisoner, was prevented from being transferred to a hospital on Tuesday, the 23rd of Farvardin, despite a previously scheduled appointment, due to her objection to being transferred while shackled and wearing ankle cuffs. This comes as a recent circular from the Prison Organization regarding the observance of prisoners’ and detainees’ rights explicitly prohibits the use of ankle cuffs except for those accused of violent crimes.
According to Hrana News Agency, the news organ of the Iranian human rights activists collective, on Tuesday, the 23rd of Farvardin 1401, Zahra Safaei, a political prisoner, was prevented from being transferred to a hospital despite a previously scheduled appointment, due to her objection to being transferred while shackled and wearing ankle cuffs.
Ms. Safaei has been transferred to the hospital multiple times since Shahrivar of last year due to heart disease and has undergone angiography surgery. The pretexts used by officials to prevent her transfer, despite her serious medical need, have been ongoing.
This comes as a recent circular from the Prison Organization regarding the observance of prisoners’ and detainees’ rights explicitly prohibits the use of ankle cuffs except for those accused of violent crimes.
Hrana previously reported on the continuation of violations of the rights of imprisoned women, despite the issuance of the circular.
Zahra Safaei and her daughter Parasto Maeini were arrested by security forces in Tehran on the 5th of Esfand 98 and transferred to the detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Ms. Safaei, along with her daughter, was exiled from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin in late Farvardin 99 following the end of interrogations. She was previously temporarily released on the 8th of Tir 99 by posting bail of 300 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings from Qarchak Prison in Varamin, and on the 5th of Mordad, after appearing at the Evin Prosecutor’s Office, she faced a tenfold increase in bail amount (three billion tomans), resulting in her re-arrest and transfer to Qarchak Prison in Varamin on Monday, the 6th of Mordad.
Ms. Safaei was ultimately sentenced in Bahman 99 by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mahdi Shahmirzadi, to five years imprisonment for the charge of “gathering and conspiracy with the intent to act against national security,” one year imprisonment for the charge of “propaganda activities against the system,” and two years imprisonment for the charge of “insulting the Supreme Leader and the founder of the Islamic Republic.” She was also sentenced to a ban on leaving the country and a ban on membership in political or social parties, groups, or organizations.
Zahra Safaei has previously been arrested and imprisoned. She was arrested in 85 and released some time later. She also spent time in prison during the sixties as a political activist. Ms. Safaei’s father, known as “Hajji Safaei,” was a prominent Tehran bazaar merchant who was executed in 60 on the charge of support for the Mujahedin-e Khalq organization.
Source: Hrana
