Saba Kord Afshari, a civil activist imprisoned in Iran, has contracted the coronavirus

Sogand Kord Afshari, the sister of Saba Kord Afshari, a civil activist imprisoned in Iran, announced on Sunday, March 14, that her imprisoned sister had contracted the coronavirus.

Ms. Kord Afshari criticized the authorities on her Twitter account, writing: "Saba's coronavirus test came back positive and they're only going to quarantine her after 6 days. If you quarantine the new entry and distribute masks and disinfectants, the majority of people in the ward won't catch coronavirus. It's better to quarantine the ward."

In an exclusive report on October 19, Voice of America revealed the Iranian government's pressure on Saba Kordafshari and her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi. According to the report, Ms. Kordafshari has suffered from digestive and stomach problems as well as internal bleeding due to long-term solitary confinement and psychological torture, but authorities are opposing her transfer to a hospital outside the prison.

Frequent reports by human rights organizations about the critical situation in Iranian prisons during the coronavirus pandemic have increased concerns about Saba Kord Afshari's health.

The United States has repeatedly and on various occasions condemned the Islamic Republic's violent confrontations and widespread repression of protesters and civil activists, as well as its repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens.

Source: Voice of America