Child commits suicide - Convict sentenced to death in Urmia Prison

Bahaldin Ghasemzadeh, a child criminal sentenced to death in Urmia Prison, attempted suicide by taking pills on Thursday, October 8, in protest of the continued uncertainty and was transferred to a hospital outside the prison. Mr. Ghasemzadeh was arrested in 2009, when he was 17 years old, along with his brother, on charges of murder and sentenced to death.

According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Thursday, October 8, 2020, Bahaldin Ghasemzadeh, a child criminal sentenced to death in Urmia Prison, attempted suicide by taking pills and was transferred to a hospital outside the prison.

The prisoner attempted suicide in protest of the ongoing uncertainty by taking 30 sleeping pills and was subsequently transferred to a hospital outside the prison. Mr. Ghasemzadeh is still receiving treatment in the hospital after being transferred.

Bahauddin and his brother Davood Ghasemzadeh had previously gone on a hunger strike in March 2018 in protest against years of uncertainty. In June 2018, HRANA also reported on the deteriorating physical condition of the two imprisoned brothers. Davood Ghasemzadeh had previously suffered an infection in his leg due to a spinal cord injury and poor prison conditions. After prison officials prevented him from being sent to medical centers and due to the long-term uncertainty, he and his brother wrote a letter to the prison director demanding that the death sentence be carried out or that they be assigned a new position.

Davud and Bahaeddin Qasemzadeh are from Salmas County. These citizens were arrested in 2009 on charges of killing two people in a tribal conflict. Bahaeddin was 17 years old at the time of his arrest and in 2009 he pleaded guilty to both murders in court. On the same day after leaving the court, he escaped from the authorities and went to Iraqi Kurdistan. After his escape, security agents arrested his sister, mother, and other brother and transferred them to Urmia Prison, demanding Bahaeddin's return in exchange for the release of his family. Bahaeddin returned to the country after a month. During this time, Davud Qasemzadeh suffered injuries to his spine and spinal cord due to severe beatings.

Prisoner suicides are a common occurrence in Iranian prisons due to long-term uncertainty, inappropriate behavior by officials, and poor conditions for prisoners.

Source: HRANA