Lack of Medical Care for 21 Inmates Infected with Coronavirus in Qarchak Prison, Varamin

Following the infection of Saba Kordafshahri, a civil activist and imprisoned detainee, with coronavirus, today Wednesday the 27th of Esfand, the infection of 20 other inmates in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin, including Maryam Ebrahimvand, a writer and film director, with this virus was confirmed by prison health authorities. These inmates are now receiving medical care without treatment in this ward. Earlier this week, Hrana reported on the emergence of suspicious symptoms of coronavirus infection among many inmates in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin. This occurred following poor management and the direct transfer of newly arrived inmates without screening procedures, social distancing, and quarantine periods, under the pretext of lack of space, to the ward.

According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the collective of human rights activists in Iran, following the infection of Saba Kordafshahri, a civil activist and imprisoned detainee, with coronavirus, today Wednesday the 27th of Esfand 1399, the infection of 20 other inmates in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin, including Maryam Ebrahimvand, a writer and film director, with this virus was confirmed by the health authorities of this prison.

These inmates are now receiving medical care without treatment in this ward. Moreover, no quarantine measures have been taken so far for sick inmates. Earlier this week, Hrana reported on the emergence of suspicious symptoms of coronavirus infection among many inmates in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin. This occurred following poor management and the direct transfer of newly arrived inmates without screening procedures, social distancing, and quarantine periods, under the pretext of lack of space, to the ward.

According to an informed source, Saba Kordafshahri’s blood oxygen level has dropped below 70 percent and she is suffering from severe chest pain. This informed source added regarding Ms. Kordafshahri’s condition: “Due to the decrease in Saba’s blood oxygen, she has been put on oxygen several times so far. Additionally, due to severe drops in blood pressure and to prevent her from slipping into a coma, she has been administered medication through injection.”

Beyond these individuals, a number of other inmates confined in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin are also facing suspected symptoms of coronavirus infection including fever, chest pain and dry cough, and coronavirus tests have not been conducted on them so far.

It is reported that at least three new arrivals daily are transferred directly to Ward 6 without screening procedures, social distancing, and quarantine periods. Among these individuals, some are released on bail after one day to one week. On the other hand, health care items such as masks, gloves, and disinfectants are not provided to inmates. Additionally, inadequate nutrition, lack of necessary health and medical facilities, and overcrowding in the ward have put inmates’ health at risk. Currently, approximately 100 inmates are held in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

In Mordad of this year, Amnesty International announced that it had seen copies of four letters written by prison authorities, which operate under the supervision of the judiciary, to the Ministry of Health, raising alarm bells about the severe shortage of personal protective equipment, disinfectants, and key medical equipment and supplies. The Ministry of Health has left these requests unanswered, and Iranian prisons continue to catastrophically lack essential equipment in the face of the spread of contagious diseases.

This is while Asghar Jahangir, the head of the prison organization, claimed in Farvardin of this year regarding the preservation of inmates’ health that “Iran should be recognized as an innovator in supporting prisoners’ rights in the world”.

Hrana previously in Mehr of this year provided a report describing the situation of political prisoners held in Qarchak Prison in Varamin following the outbreak of coronavirus, and had warned about the possibility of coronavirus spreading among inmates held in this prison.

Since Saghari Khodadadi, the new superintendent of this prison, took office, pressures and restrictions on political prisoners have increased significantly.

Source: Hrana