Women’s Ward of Evin Prison; Lack of Medical Care for Saba Kordafsharieh
Saba Kordafsharieh, a civil activist imprisoned in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, is deprived of medical care despite ankle injury. Ms. Kordafsharieh was transferred to Tehran’s Taleghani Hospital in early Mehr this year for treatment of her ankle injury, but was returned to prison without receiving proper medical care. This civil activist also suffers from digestive problems and stomach ulcers, but has not received proper medical attention in this regard either.
According to Hrana News Agency, the news organ of the collective of human rights activists in Iran, Saba Kordafsharieh, a civil activist imprisoned in Evin Prison, is deprived of medical care despite ankle injury.
Ms. Kordafsharieh was sent to Taleghani Hospital in early Mehr this year based on a diagnosis of hair loss in the ankle by prison health services for treatment. Emergency room physicians raised the possibility of tendon damage, but because the transfer of this civil activist occurred in the afternoon, at a time when the hospital was refusing to accept patients, the emergency clinic put a cast on her foot and it was scheduled for her to be transferred to the hospital two weeks later for an MRI test. After several weeks had passed and Saba Kordafsharieh was not transferred to the hospital, she removed the cast herself and noticed swelling and bruising on her foot.
Her foot injury is so severe that this civil activist needs to use a cane to move around.
An informed source about Ms. Kordafsharieh’s conditions told Hrana: “Saba Kordafsharieh today, after removing the cast from her foot, noticed severe swelling and bruising and was transferred to prison health services. Prison health services again intended to be negligent and transfer her to the hospital during afternoon hours, which met with Saba’s objection. Transfer at this time means no re-examination and only a futile trip to the hospital, especially during the coronavirus outbreak in the country, so she refused to go to the hospital”.
This imprisoned civil activist also suffers from digestive problems and stomach ulcers, which have not received proper medical attention either. She was previously transferred to Tehran’s Taleghani Hospital on the 29th of Shahrivar 1399, but was returned to prison without proper medical care under the pretext of non-payment of expenses.
Saba Kordafsharieh, who was released from the women’s ward of Evin Prison in Bahman 1397 following her previous conviction, was arrested again by security forces at her home on Saturday, 11 Khordad 1398, and after 11 days of intense interrogation, was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. On 11 Tir, she was transferred again from Qarchak Prison in Varamin to the Intelligence Detention Center of the Revolutionary Guards in Evin Prison, known as Ward 2-A, for continued interrogation, and on 21 Tir was returned from the Intelligence Detention Center to Qarchak Prison. Ms. Kordafsharieh was transferred to Evin Prison on 22 Mordad 1398, and her trial hearing was held on 28 Mordad 1398.
She was ultimately convicted on 5 Shahrivar 1398 by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to 15 years of imprisonment on the charge of “spreading corruption and obscenity through unveiling and walking without a hijab”, 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda activities against the system”, and 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion for the purpose of committing crimes against national security”, for a total of 24 years of imprisonment along with other social deprivations. Due to multiple charges and prior convictions, an additional one-half was added to each charge.
This ruling was reduced to 9 years of imprisonment in Azar 1398 by Branch 36 of Tehran Province’s Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Ahmad Zargar. According to this ruling, Saba Kordafsharieh was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment on the charge of “propaganda activities against the system” and 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion for the purpose of committing crimes against national security”, for a total of 9 years of imprisonment. Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion for the purpose of committing crimes against national security” was enforceable against her.
In Khordad of this year, following an illegal alteration of the verdict, the 15-year sentence for “spreading corruption” from which she had previously been acquitted was applied to her case. Now Ms. Kordafsharieh, who is currently serving her 9 years of imprisonment in Evin Prison, will face a 24-year sentence if the judicial violation is not corrected.
Saba Kordafsharieh was born on 16 Tir 1377. Raheleh Ahmadi, imprisoned civil activist and mother of Saba Kordafsharieh, has been serving her 31-month sentence in the women’s ward of Evin Prison since Bahman 1398.
Source: Hrana
