Narges Mohammadi Sent on Medical Leave
Narges Mohammadi, an imprisoned civil activist, underwent surgery due to coronary artery blockage.
Taghi Rahmani, her husband, announced the news on Twitter, stating that Narges Mohammadi has been sent on medical leave following the surgery.
This political prisoner, who was transferred to a hospital on Saturday, the 30th of Bahman, following respiratory problems, was returned to Qarchak Prison in Varamin after several hours. Taghi Rahmani had described the transfer of his wife back to prison as “retaliation” and Qarchak Prison as a “torture chamber.”
Narges Mohammadi, spokesperson and vice president of the Human Rights Defenders Center, has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times since 2009.
Her arrest on the 25th of Aban this year took place during a ceremony marking the second anniversary of Ibrahim Ketabdar, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests. After two months in solitary confinement, this human rights activist was transferred from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in late Dey.
Qarchak Women’s Prison is one of the facilities where several former political prisoners have spoken about unsuitable conditions and lack of food, sanitation, and medical facilities.
In her latest case at Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment, 74 lashes, two years of prohibition from activity in institutions and political parties, and two years of deprivation from activity on social media.
Before this recent verdict, in another case, this human rights activist was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and 80 lashes due to her protest sit-in in prison.
These judicial sentences were issued to Narges Mohammadi while all her activities in recent years have been civil and peaceful.
Opposition to capital punishment, support for families of victims of nationwide protests, defense of political prisoners, protest against prolonged solitary confinement, informing about prison conditions, and documenting physical and psychological torture are among Narges Mohammadi’s activities.
This human rights activist was previously sentenced in one of her cases to 16 years imprisonment (10 years enforceable), and after serving eight years of this sentence, she was released from prison in September 2020.
Following these repeated imprisonments, Narges Mohammadi developed muscular dystrophy in prison, which her family has repeatedly stated is exacerbated by prison conditions.
The United States, the European Union, and human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Iranian authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi from prison.
Source: Voice of America
