Taghi Rahmani: The treatment meted out to Narges Mohammadi is a form of revenge

Human rights activist Narges Mohammadi has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Zanjan prison. Narges Mohammadi's husband, Taghi Rahmani, confirmed to Deutsche Welle that his wife has contracted the virus and called on Iranian judicial authorities to grant her leave for medical care.

The website “Kalameh” announced in a short tweet on Sunday, July 12, that prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi had contracted COVID-19. “Mohammadi and 11 other prisoners were quarantined on Sunday morning,” the Kalameh Twitter account said.

Narges Mohammadi has been struggling with lung disease for years, and her condition has become more serious and dangerous these days due to her infection with the coronavirus.

Narges Mohammadi's family also said that she had undergone several major surgeries and, according to her doctor's instructions, she should have enough protein in her diet.

According to the words of Narges Mohammadi, during the six months she was transferred to Zanjan, she was fed bread and yogurt or bread, tomatoes, and onions.

Narges Mohammadi's husband, Taghi Rahmani, confirmed the news of her infection with the coronavirus in an interview with Deutsche Welle Persian.

Rahmani said that symptoms of the coronavirus, including severe muscle pain, extreme lethargy, and loss of sense of smell, had appeared in Narges' body, but her condition had worsened due to the inattention of prison officials.

Rahmani explained to Deutsche Welle about his wife's latest situation: "A few days ago, a prisoner who tested positive for COVID-19 was brought to the female prisoners' ward. This prisoner is infecting people in the ward, and this incident has been happening for several days. After the prisoners were infected with COVID-19, 20 prisoners were divided into two groups, eight of whom were separated, and 12 other prisoners, including Narges Mohammadi, were quarantined."

Rahmani continued his speech by adding: "These are 12 people and they were quarantined in the Zanjan women's ward due to contracting the coronavirus, but they are not receiving medical and pharmaceutical care and are only quarantined."

" The prison does not respond to Narges' coronavirus test ."

Rahmani continued his speech by emphasizing that after pressure from their families, two prisoners took a test and the test results were positive. However, the prison has not officially announced it. Rahmani emphasized that Narges Mohammadi was also tested, but Zanjan Prison does not provide the test results. He continued his speech by saying that one of the female prisoners was transferred to the hospital due to her worsening condition. The hospital doctor said that she was infected with the coronavirus, but due to lack of space, the prisoner was returned to the ward.

Mr. Rahmani continued: "Inside the country, the families approached the prosecutor's office and asked that Narges be granted leave so that she can recover and return to serve the rest of her prison term. Measures are also being taken at the international level. Amnesty International has written letters to the Iranian ambassador and missions in Denmark and various places."

In another part of his speech, Rahmani said that the action of the prison authorities, whether intentional or unintentional, was a very dangerous one, and despite knowing that they had a person infected with the coronavirus, they sent him to the prison ward.

Rahmani added: "There is an indescribable kind of opposition and animosity towards Narges from Mr. Rouhani's Ministry of Intelligence. But Mr. Rouhani is not doing anything. But the reality is that there is this much opposition towards Narges and she has even been subjected to double deprivations in prison. She does not buy books, she has not been able to talk to her children on the phone for 10 months, and her children have not heard their mother's voice for 10 months. The Zanjan prison authorities are not even willing to provide her with food at Narges' own expense and with her own money."

Narges Mohammadi's husband continued his interview with Deutsche Welle, emphasizing: "The treatment they are now giving Narges is a kind of revenge. One person is sick and at least they should be given leave. Zanjan prison authorities say that they are not working and Tehran should allow it. Lawyers in Tehran are also asking, but no one is answering. Iranian judicial authorities do not accept official, political, and civil rights."

At the end of his conversation with Deutsche Welle, Rahmani asked the country's judicial authorities to grant his wife Narges Mohammadi leave to receive medical care.