Physical Condition of 11 Inmates at Rajaishahr Prison Reported as ‘Critical’

The physical condition of sick inmates at Rajaishahr Prison has been reported to have deteriorated following prison officials’ prevention of their transfer to medical facilities outside the prison.

The Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation reported on Tuesday, May 11, that the physical condition of eleven political prisoners at Rajaishahr Prison, including Arash Sadeghi, Hamza Sawari, Majid Asadi, and Afshin Baymani, has been reported as critical due to prison officials’ refusal to transfer them to medical facilities outside the prison.

An informed source told the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation that according to the prison warden’s order, there is only limited possibility for transferring inmates to Karaj Civil Hospital, where the necessary medical facilities are also not available.

According to this report, ensuring access to social and medical services is a requirement that must be provided to inmates to ensure implementation of the third paragraph of Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the right of prisoners to be treated humanely), and Iran, as a signatory to this international covenant, is committed to it.

This is not the first time that officials of Iranian prisons have treated inmates in this manner. Hassan Memtaz Sarvestani, a Bahai prisoner, Soheil Arabi, a civil activist, and Narges Mohammadi, a civil activist and human rights defender, are among the prisoners who have been repeatedly denied access to medical facilities, have not been granted medical leave, or have been prevented from receiving treatment outside the prison.

Source: Voice of America