Iran Regime’s Continued Disregard for Dangerous Prison Conditions During Coronavirus Pandemic; Farhad Meisami, Political Prisoner, Infected with COVID-19

Coinciding with warnings from a U.S. State Department spokesperson about the dire situation in Iranian prisons and calls for the release of political prisoners, reports indicate that Farhad Meisami, a physician and political activist, is another person imprisoned in Iran who has contracted coronavirus.

Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said on Tuesday, October 6, in a Twitter post: “The United States is concerned about the worsening situation related to COVID-19 in Iran, and we reiterate our offer of assistance that we first proposed in February. We call on the UN Human Rights Council’s request for Iranian authorities to immediately release all political prisoners from overcrowded and unsanitary prisons.”

A source close to Mr. Meisami’s family, in an interview with Voice of America, confirmed the news and stated that after Mr. Meisami contracted coronavirus in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, he was transferred this morning to a place called a “safe room.” According to this informed source, there is no information or details available about this so-called “safe room.”

Meanwhile, Zia Nabavi, a former political prisoner, wrote on his Twitter page on Tuesday, October 6, quoting Mr. Meisami that he “lost his appetite last week, but is doing well now.”

Farhad Meisami, a 48-year-old civil activist and imprisoned physician, was arrested on July 31, 2018, at his workplace for possessing a pin (also referred to as a “pixel”) with the slogan “I am against mandatory hijab.” He remains in detention. After Mr. Meisami’s arrest, Iranian judicial authorities charged him with assembly and conspiracy against national security, propaganda against the system, and the spread and promotion of corruption, obscenity, and non-compliance with hijab in society—charges commonly referred to as “miscellaneous charges.”

Amnesty International has previously stated that Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Farhad Meisami.

The coronavirus test of Nemat Behram, a detained journalist in Evin Prison, has also tested positive.

A source close to the detained journalist’s family told Voice of America that on Wednesday, October 7, in a brief call between Nemat Behram and his family from Evin Prison, he reported his transfer to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran and a series of tests including blood tests and lung scans, and said that his coronavirus test result came back positive.

Nemat Behram, a journalist and media activist, was sentenced in late August 2019 by the primary court to one year in prison and two years of deprivation from political and social activities for charges of “propaganda against the system,” and this verdict was confirmed on April 15 by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals and was executed on May 20.

The Islamic Republic has, in recent years, engaged in widespread arrests and issued harsh sentences against civil rights activists, human rights defenders, women, workers, and teachers in Iran.

However, this is not the first time that political and ideological prisoners have contracted coronavirus while in detention. Some time ago, Narges Mohammadi, a detained civil activist in Zanjan Prison, reported in a letter her own infection and that of several other prisoners with coronavirus and the lack of medical and health facilities. This prompted Iranian users to launch a Twitter storm by posting messages with the hashtag #Torture_with_Corona.

Hangame Shahidi, a detained journalist in Evin Prison, was also transferred to Evin Prison’s medical ward on an emergency basis on Saturday, February 29, following the deterioration of her condition and the appearance of coronavirus symptoms. The infection of Amirhossein Moradi, one of those arrested during the November protests, with this virus in Fashafuyeh Prison, had also been previously reported in the media.

Following the continued widespread outbreak of coronavirus in Iran, concerns among families of political and ideological prisoners have also increased regarding the lack of medical and health facilities in Iranian prisons.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned violent crackdowns and widespread suppression of protesters, repeated and continuous violations of Iranian citizens’ rights, and ongoing cover-ups by the ruling regime in that country.

Source: Voice of America