Human Rights Media Report Deaths of Several Inmates in Tehran and Urmia Prisons from Coronavirus
Over the past few days, at least 9 inmates in Tehran and Urmia prisons have died following coronavirus infection.
According to reports published by human rights media outlets through Wednesday, Farvardin 6, at least three inmates in Urmia Central Prison and 6 other inmates in Tehran Prison have died after contracting the coronavirus.
The Telegram channel of the Free Union of Iranian Workers announced on Thursday, citing an informed source, that the current health conditions in the wards of Tehran Prison are reported to be unsatisfactory, with only dishwashing liquid available as a sanitary resource, and inmates are living in poor psychological and mental conditions.
According to this report, despite the spread of this virus in Tehran Prison and the deaths of 6 inmates, prison officials have not provided accurate information about the number of infected individuals and have remained silent.
The Hengaw Human Rights Network also reported in a separate statement that on Wednesday, Farvardin 6, an inmate from the women’s ward of Urmia Central Prison, whose identity remains unknown, and two other inmates named Hossein Javadi and Fariq Mohammadi died in recent days following coronavirus infection.
It should be noted that Voice of America cannot independently verify the information released regarding the number of deaths from coronavirus in Iranian prisons.
The release of some inmates began on Wednesday, Esfand 7, following the issuance of a new circular by Ebrahim Raisi, Chief Justice of the Islamic Republic. The circular, based on certain conditions, issued orders for limited furloughs for certain groups of imprisoned inmates. One provision of the circular states that those political prisoners charged with “actions against national security” who are sentenced to more than 5 years in prison are “exempted from furlough.” This is while most political prisoners charged with this offense have sentences exceeding 5 years.
Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, said on Wednesday, Farvardin 6, at a press conference: “Not only from Syria, but we have asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to release not only American citizens but all those who have been unjustly imprisoned under these circumstances. This is a humanitarian action, and beyond the fact that these individuals were illegally imprisoned, humanitarian principles dictate that they should be released from prison under these conditions.”
However, a large number of inmates in various Iranian prisons, including political and ideological prisoners whose sentences exceed 5 years, remain detained in Iranian prisons.
Source: Voice of America
