Mother of an imprisoned civil activist: If the injuries from my son's torture are not treated, he may go into a coma

The mother of Saeed Eghbali, a civil rights activist imprisoned in Iran, says that her son's right eardrum was ruptured by blows from security officers during his arrest, and due to lack of treatment during 70 days of solitary confinement, the infection has now moved to the cerebellum and has reached a stage where, according to doctors, Saeed may fall into a coma if he is not treated immediately.

In an interview with Voice of America's Persian service on Thursday, October 5, Sara Marati, Saeed Eghbali's mother, said that her son was "last sent to forensic medicine from Rajai Shahr Prison on September 21," and the doctor confirmed that "his condition is emergency."

Ms. Marati added: This injury occurred on February 3, 2017, during the arrest of Saeed Eghbali by security forces as a result of “severe beatings and blows” and “several strong blows to the back of the head with handcuffs,” causing “very severe damage to his middle ear,” and “70 days of solitary confinement, torture, and interrogation far from treatment greatly aggravated this injury.”

According to Sara Merati, her son was "under pressure" to "force a confession" after the arrest of two close friends with whom he had an emotional relationship.

Ms. Marati emphasized that Saeed Eghbali's trial was held "under the supervision of Judge Moghiseh in 30 seconds," and said: "He was sentenced to six years in prison without a chance to defend himself, five of which are enforceable."

Ms. Marati stated that Saeed Eghbali's treatment began after his temporary release, emphasizing that Saeed was called to Evin Prison on June 11, 2020 to carry out the sentence, and as a result, his treatment period was interrupted, causing "the middle ear infection to progress."

According to him, following the deterioration of the imprisoned civil activist's condition, he was sent from prison to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran twice "in handcuffs and shackles," but "no medical treatment was provided" and he "was only visited."

Mr. Iqbali's mother added that a 70 percent rupture of the right eardrum has caused Saeed Iqbali to "almost lose" his hearing.

Ms. Marati said that this political prisoner was "deported" to Rajai Shahr Prison on the 2nd of April of this year following a hunger strike in protest of the "condition of political prisoners," and eight months after the doctor's order, he was sent "only once" to Amir-Alam Hospital in Tehran, and even there, "he was only visited."

According to Ms. Marati, the family is responsible for Saeed's treatment costs, and in prison, "the only medicine available to Saeed is strong painkillers," which he no longer uses due to "further damage" and the development of "drug dependence."

Saeed Eghbali's mother stated that her lawyer had requested a retrial and medical leave, but they had not received a response so far. When Ms. Merati personally visited Evin Prison, she was told, "Your son never regrets what he did and continues to insist on his position," and for this reason, he was prevented from being sent on medical leave.

Following the publication of hacked images from Evin Prison's CCTV cameras by the "Justice Ali" cyber group, a group of political prisoners in Evin Prison also announced that some of the torture of prisoners is not recorded on any camera.

Amnesty International has called those abuses “the tip of the iceberg of the torture epidemic in Iran.”