A Prison Official in Razavi Khorasan Reports Death of 9 Inmates Due to Coronavirus in Mashhad Prison

The director general of prisons in Razavi Khorasan announced at a special press conference held during the Judiciary Week at Mashhad Central Prison that a number of inmates died as a result of contracting the coronavirus over the past year.

Saeid Sarbaz Janfada, director general of prisons in Razavi Khorasan, stated at the press conference that approximately 9 inmates who had recently been admitted to prison or those who had returned to prison after completing their furlough died from coronavirus infection in the past year.

According to ISNA news agency, he further reported the deaths of two healthcare workers due to coronavirus and said: “We had two anonymous martyrs among our healthcare colleagues so that the health of inmates inside the prison would be preserved.”

The director general of prisons in Razavi Khorasan also claimed that vaccination of inmates over 60 years old and healthcare workers in prisons across Razavi Khorasan Province has been completed.

It was in September of last year that the human rights organization “Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran,” a copy of which was provided to Voice of America, described the situation of coronavirus spread in Iranian prisons as “critical.”

According to this human rights organization’s report, the Islamic Republic is behaving “completely irresponsibly” by disregarding international commitments regarding the right to life and the right to health of prisoners.

Source: Voice of America