Coronavirus in Evin Prison Women’s Ward; Niloofar Bayani and Three Other Prisoners Test Positive for COVID-19
Niloofar Bayani, an environmental activist imprisoned in Iran, has been transferred to the quarantine ward of Evin Prison following her contraction of the coronavirus.
According to a report by the Imtedad news website, following the positive coronavirus test result for Niloofar Bayani, an environmental activist, and three other prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, who were tested via PCR on Thursday, the 7th of Mordad, due to displaying symptoms of the disease, these inmates have been transferred to the prison’s quarantine facility.
The report further states: “Over the past two weeks, more than half of the prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison have been granted temporary release due to coronavirus infection.”
Previously, Voice of America had reported on female prisoners in Iran contracting the coronavirus. In late Tir month, Alia Motallebzadeh, a photojournalist and women’s rights activist, spoke in a phone call from within the women’s ward of political prisoners, stating that inmates face unsuitable conditions and lack access to proper facilities. In a phone conversation with her husband, Sedra Abdollahi, she described the situation within the ward as critical.
Niloofar Bayani, one of the imprisoned environmental activists, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and asset confiscation by the Revolutionary Court on charges of “cooperation with America.”
Maryam Karan, daughter of Nahid Taghavi, an Iranian-German dual national prisoner in Evin Prison, sent a message to Voice of America reporting that Taghavi’s coronavirus test came back positive in Evin Prison and stated that her mother’s health condition was unfavorable, saying that she suffers from fever, chills, and severe body aches.
Also, in early Mordad month, Voice of America reported on the coronavirus infection of Giti Poorfazel, a lawyer and signatory to the statement calling for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s resignation, as reported by Ramina Helfroush, Ms. Poorfazel’s granddaughter.
