Kiowan Samimi’s Life in Danger; Illegal Insistence on Transfer Despite Medical Complications
Kiowan Samimi, a 73-year-old political prisoner held in Evin Prison, faces unfavorable medical conditions and a history of heart disease, yet is on the verge of being “transferred” to another Iranian prison. An informed source regarding Mr. Samimi’s situation told the Iran Human Rights Campaign: “Given Kiowan Samimi’s advanced age and medical history, as well as the opinion of the legal medicine examiner and the prison warden’s approval, legally the prison sentence should be immediately commuted to another status and the law should be implemented in this regard. However, Amin Veziri, Deputy Prosecutor and custodian inspector overseeing political prisoners, insists that Kiowan Samimi be transferred to another prison.”
According to Article 502 of the Criminal Procedure Code, whenever a convict suffers from a physical or mental illness and the execution of the punishment causes aggravation of the illness or delays recovery, the criminal enforcement judge, upon obtaining the opinion of the legal medicine examiner, postpones the execution of the sentence until recovery, and in some cases substitutes appropriate punishment for imprisonment. The informed source from Kiowan Samimi’s case told the Iran Human Rights Campaign: “Amin Veziri not only insists that Kiowan Samimi must continue serving his sentence, but also insists on the transfer (relocation) of Mr. Samimi, which will undoubtedly worsen this elderly prisoner’s health and have a direct impact.”
The process of harsh and inhumane treatment of political and ideological prisoners has put many of their lives at serious risk. In recent days, the death of Baktash Abtin, a poet and filmmaker held in Evin Prison, once again demonstrated how the judiciary authorities’ policy toward political and ideological prisoners suffering from medical problems leads to the loss of prisoners’ lives.
Hadi Qaeemi, director of the Iran Human Rights Campaign, expressed concern about Kiowan Samimi’s situation, stating: “Although the authorities of the Islamic Republic attempt to present a positive image of respect for human rights standards, the reality is that Iran’s rule has no limits in repeating and continuing the suppression and silencing of critics and opponents, and uses every method to impose pressure and harassment against them.”
The Iran Human Rights Campaign strongly condemns the direct and blatant role of human rights violators such as Amin Veziri, Deputy Prosecutor and custodian inspector overseeing political prisoners, in their treatment of ideological and political prisoners, and warns that the continuation of human rights-violating and illegal policies such as transferring prisoners and preventing and opposing the provision of appropriate medical and therapeutic conditions will put more political and ideological prisoners’ lives at serious risk.
Amin Veziri’s insistence on transferring Kiowan Samimi to another prison in the country (possibly Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj) comes as today, Tuesday, December 11 (21 Dey), the Organization of Iranian Prisons issued a circular regarding the rights of prisoners and detainees, which mentioned issues such as transferring ill prisoners to medical centers and the right to access to a lawyer. Saied Dehqan, a practicing attorney, in response to this circular, which was issued only a few days after the death of Baktash Abtin, poet and filmmaker held in Evin Prison, and coinciding with the raising of authorities’ insistence on Kiowan Samimi’s transfer on Twitter, wrote: “The prison organization’s circular on prisoners’ rights is one step forward: admission of violation of laws. Three steps backward: repetition of performance and vague statements and substituting an unenforceable circular with unenforced laws. These days, instead of understanding Kiowan Samimi’s heart disease and inability to bear punishment, Amin Veziri insists on his transfer from Evin!”
Following his participation in a protest gathering on International Workers’ Day in May 2019 in front of the Parliament building, Kiowan Samimi was initially arrested and several months later was sentenced to three years imprisonment on charges of “gathering and collusion with the intent to act against national security.” This sentence was affirmed verbatim in the appeals court. Mr. Samimi has been serving his sentence in Evin Prison since December 8, 2020. During his imprisonment, this political prisoner has repeatedly published news and issues related to the prison and prisoners, serving as the voice of the imprisoned.
Amin Veziri is the Deputy Prosecutor and custodian inspector overseeing political prisoners stationed in Evin Prison. His fingerprints can be seen in many cases of political and ideological prisoners, and there is a history of him issuing orders to transfer prisoners to other prisons in his record.
Source: Iran Human Rights Campaign
