Iran’s Judiciary Ignoring Ahmdreza Jalali’s Medical Care Needs

The family of Ahmadreza Jalali, a physician and university professor accused of espionage in Iran, has criticized the negligence of judicial officials and prison authorities regarding his need for medical care.

Human Rights Watch for Iran, upon releasing the latest photo sent out by this security prisoner, reported on Saturday, April 28, that according to Mr. Jalali’s wife, prison officials are refusing to transfer him to a hospital.

A photo released on Thursday of Ahmadreza Jalali from inside Evin Prison shows that his weight has severely declined over the past two years.

Vida Mehrannia, Mr. Jalali’s wife, told Human Rights Watch for Iran: “Ahmadreza’s family, his lawyer, and he himself have submitted requests multiple times from inside the prison for hospital transfer and testing. The Swedish government has requested from Iran several times to provide treatment conditions for Ahmadreza. His mother has repeatedly informed officials that she will cover all costs herself and just wants him sent for treatment, but unfortunately, no attention has been paid.”

Ms. Mehrannia continued: “Before the holiday, two tests were conducted on him through the prison doctor. The results of one test arrived on the fifth of Ordibehesht, more than a month later, showing that his white blood cell count is below the normal average, which is very dangerous. Ahmadreza needs to be hospitalized immediately. Moreover, he also needs hernia surgery.”

Zeinab Taheri, Mr. Jalali’s lawyer, had stated on December 20 of last year that Judge Solwati was preventing him from being released from prison.

According to Ms. Taheri, Ahmadreza Jalali “even though he eats, becomes thinner day by day.”

She added that Mr. Jalali, who is himself a physician, had said that there is likely a tumor in his digestive system. The prison doctor, after examination, said that tests should be conducted outside the prison, but so far Judge Solwati has refused to allow him to leave prison for treatment.

Mr. Jalali, who had temporary residence in Sweden and was collaborating with several European universities, was arrested and imprisoned about two years ago when he traveled to Iran at the invitation of Tehran University. In a video broadcast last February by Islamic Republic Radio and Television, he confessed to providing information about two murdered Iranian nuclear scientists to Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This is while Iran had previously executed another person on charges of assassinating these scientists.

Iran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Mr. Jalali to death for transferring confidential information to Mossad at the height of Iran’s nuclear program activities, and the Supreme Court rejected the request for review of the sentence in less than an hour. His lawyer, however, has requested a re-examination of the case.

Mr. Jalali’s death sentence and the broadcast of his confessions led to criticism from human rights organizations and UN human rights experts.

Four UN human rights experts stated on December 20 that the proceedings in Mr. Jalali’s case showed numerous violations of his rights and that the defendant was deprived of a fair trial.

In this statement, referring to arbitrary arrest, torture, and issuance of a death sentence for Mr. Jalali, reports were cited indicating that the defendant had no access to a lawyer, was held in solitary confinement, and was forcibly coerced into confessing. These experts called for the annulment of Mr. Jalali’s death sentence.

Source: Voice of America