Daughter of Nahid Taqawi Tells Voice of America: Authorities Refuse to Grant Mother Medical Furlough
Following the deterioration of the physical condition of Nahid Taqawi, an Iranian-German dual citizen imprisoned in Iran, her daughter states that despite posting a 2 billion toman bail and her mother’s urgent need for back surgery, authorities continue to refuse to grant her medical leave.
Maryam Klaren, noting that Ms. Taqawi suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure even before her arrest, told Voice of America that her mother is currently experiencing back problems and requires immediate surgery.
Ms. Klaren stated that although a neurosurgeon at a Tehran hospital, after reviewing Ms. Taqawi’s MRI results, informed prison authorities that she needs back surgery and a rehabilitation period, and despite the fact that the set bail of 2 billion tomans was paid by the family on September 15, Ms. Taqawi has not been granted medical leave to this day.
Referring to the arrest of Mostafa Nili, Nahid Taqawi’s defense lawyer, and noting that Mr. Nili has been imprisoned for the past month, she told Voice of America that in the absence of access to her mother’s defense lawyer, legal follow-ups are being pursued by family members, and they are attempting to hire a new lawyer for the case to conduct the necessary proceedings.
Maryam Klaren also stated that the judiciary has not provided a clear response to the Taqawi family’s demands.
Nahid Taqawi, an Iranian-German citizen who was arrested in her Tehran apartment in August of last year, was sentenced in August of this year to 10 years and 8 months in prison on charges of “membership in an illegal group” and “propaganda activities against the system.”
Currently, aside from Nahid Taqawi, several dual citizens including Mehran Raouf, Siamak and Baquer Namazi, Kamran Qaderi, Masoud Messaheb, and Anousheh Ashuri are imprisoned in Iran.
In recent years, Iran has intensified the detention of foreign and dual citizens. The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned what it calls unjustified and arbitrary detention of American citizens and nationals of other countries, including Iranian dual citizens, by the Islamic Republic, and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Source: Voice of America
