Maryam Naghash Zargaran: Fourth day of hunger strike and protest support from fellow prisoners

Maryam (Nasim) Naghash Zargaran, a prisoner of conscience and a patient in the women's ward of Evin Prison, has been on a hunger strike for four days in protest against the lack of treatment for her illnesses, the status of her case, the lack of parole, and her opposition to granting her leave. This Christian convert refused to go to a visit today in continuation of her protests, following this action, most of her fellow prisoners also supported her.
They refused to go to the meeting because of his protest.

The Human Rights Activists in Iran News Agency reports that despite the serious condition of Maryam (Nasim), a Christian convert and a prisoner of conscience in the women's ward of Evin Prison, she is being prevented from being sent to a specialized medical center outside the prison. The prisoner of conscience has been on a hunger strike for four days in protest of her condition.

Announcing this news to HRANA, a close relative of Zargaran's family said: "Maryam has not been able to get out of bed for four days. She has a very high fever. She has been on a hunger strike for four days in protest of the status of her case, the lack of treatment for her illnesses, the lack of conditional release, and her opposition to her leave."

The source further stated: “Today, Maryam, in continuation of her protest, refused to visit her family, and most of her fellow prisoners, except for a few prisoners who urgently needed visits, also did not visit in support of her protest.”

A source close to Zargaran's family concluded by emphasizing: "Maryam's physical condition is very serious. She lost 25 kilos before the start of the strike, and her illnesses, including a new illness that causes severe dizziness and headaches, have become very severe and are not being treated at all. She is not in a good mental state. She has suffered from depression in prison and is taking antidepressants. She had requested a retrial a long time ago, but her family recently learned that such a request is not in her file and she must apply again."

Maryam (Nasim) Naghash Zargaran, a prisoner of conscience in the women's ward of Evin Prison, has been suffering from severe pain in her ear and constant dizziness. After initial examination, prison health doctors have told her that she should not move her head for the next two weeks, and if she does not improve, she will need to undergo surgery. However, the prosecutor's office is still opposing her being granted sick leave or being sent to the hospital.

Nasim Zargaran underwent heart surgery about 9 years ago due to ASD and is in dire need of special and continuous medical care. In addition, in the past year, he has been experiencing numbness in his hands and feet and chronic pain in his joints and spine. After months of initial visits to a specialist, he was initially diagnosed with lumbar disc disease, arthritis, and osteoporosis. The prison's trusted doctor ordered a 5-day hospitalization and an urgent need for physiotherapy. Due to the lack of permission from the prosecutor's office, he continues to suffer from severe pain. Zargaran has also suffered from severe anemia, diabetes, and high blood pressure during his months in prison, and his treatment process has been neglected due to the lack of permission from the relevant judicial institutions.

Maryam (Nasim), a Christian convert to Islam, was first summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence's follow-up office and interrogated in March 2020. These interrogations, which were accompanied by threats and harassment of her family members, often continued in informal locations and centered around questions about her home and church.

He was finally summoned and arrested by the security police a few days after the arrest of Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American citizen who had returned to the country to establish an orphanage in northern Iran. On the same day, his father's house was searched and his religious books, pamphlets, and personal belongings were confiscated.

After being arrested, this Christian convert was transferred to Evin Prison for fingerprinting and then transferred to the Ministers' Building without any explanation of the charges. He was detained and interrogated for 5 days and nights without the most basic sanitary facilities in this place, and the most frequent subject of questions was the reason for the increase in the number of house church members and attendees, and the quality of the services held in these churches.

Ms. Zargaran was eventually transferred to Evin Prison and charged by Branch 2 of the Shahid Mogadishu Prosecutor's Office. The only charge against her was propaganda against the regime.

Maryam Naghash was released on bail of 70 million after 19 days of temporary detention in Evin Women's Ward. She was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment by Judge Moghiseh, head of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, on charges of acting against national security through association and collusion. This is despite the fact that she had never been informed of such charges.

She is currently serving her four-year sentence in the women's ward of Evin Prison.

Source: HRANA