Deteriorating Conditions of Four Civil and Political Activists in Prison; Two Transferred to Hospital

Recent reports from Iranian prisons indicate the deteriorating health condition of four inmates: Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Sepideh Ghollian, Arsham Rezaei, and Sohila Hijab.

The family of Sepideh Ghollian says the civil activist has contracted coronavirus again and “despite displaying acute symptoms,” Evin prison authorities are refusing to grant her medical leave.

Sepideh Ghollian, who was sentenced to five years in prison in the Haft Tappeh protests case, had also contracted coronavirus in June of this year.

In Mashhad, the wife of Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, a political prisoner, reported his deteriorating condition while in detention at the Mashhad Information Office and his transfer to a hospital in the city.

Shahla Jahanbeen, announcing that her husband was transferred to Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad in a semi-conscious state, held the “Ministry of Intelligence” and “criminal rulers” responsible for any incident that might occur to her husband.

Hangameh Vahedian, the daughter of Abbas Vahedian, told the radio on Monday, March 29, that she learned this morning from a hospital employee that her father, who had “low consciousness,” had been removed from the hospital.

Officials at the hospital said Mr. Vahedian was being transferred to prison, but Hangameh Vahedian says: “We don’t believe that. It’s possible they took my father back to the intelligence detention center. His whereabouts are currently unknown.”

Ms. Vahedian also reported her attempts to visit her father in the hospital, saying: “Last night I wanted to go, but the hospital’s security chief prevented our visit. He said he’s a political prisoner and you don’t have permission to visit. If he were a murderer, you could visit, but we don’t allow visits for political prisoners.”

Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi is one of the signatories of a statement by 14 political and civil activists who, in June 2019, called for Ali Khamenei to step down from power and for a transition away from Iran’s Islamic Republic system.

Amnesty International, on February 3 of this year, in a letter to the head of Iran’s judiciary, referring to Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi’s prolonged imprisonment in solitary confinement, called for his immediate and unconditional release.

At Karaj prison, Arsham (Mahmoud) Rezaei, a civil activist, has gone on hunger strike in protest of prison authorities’ refusal to allow him medical leave.

Hana News Agency reported that “this civil activist suffers from hiatal hernia, Helicobacter pylori infection (stomach infection), and duodenal ulcer and needs medical treatment.”

Arsham Rezaei was sentenced to 5 years in prison in March 2019 on charges of “propaganda against the system, assembly and conspiracy to act against national security, and insulting the leader.”

Previously, on Thursday, February 25, in Kermanshah, Sohila Hijab, a political prisoner, was transferred from the women’s ward of the city prison to a hospital due to her deteriorating condition.

Sohila Hijab was sentenced to 5 years in prison in March 2020 on charges of “propaganda against the system, assembly and conspiracy, disturbing public order with intent to cause riots, and forming an illegal group.”

No reports have been released about Sohila Hijab’s health status following her transfer to the hospital.

Source: Radio Farda