Preventing Athena Daemi from being transferred to the hospital for MRI and medical care

A source familiar with the condition of imprisoned civil activist Atena Daemi told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that she has been suffering from dizziness, constant headaches, and numbness in her right eye for a long time, and although the medical doctor at Qarchak Prison wrote a request for her to undergo an MRI in April 2018, she has not been transferred to the hospital for this purpose and examination since then. Also, according to this source, the assistant prosecutor supervising the prison has not accepted her family's request for a visit for a long time, and as a result, they have not been able to obtain permission to transfer their child to the hospital.

The source explained further to the campaign: “Athena has been suffering from headaches and a tingling sensation in her right eye for a long time. The Evin Prison medical doctor told her several times after examining her that she had MS. However, after performing an MRI, it was determined that Athena fortunately did not have MS. However, when she was in Qarchak Prison, the prison doctor told her that she probably had MS and that sometimes the disease does not show itself on an MRI in its early stages. He prescribed another MRI for Athena, but so far she has not been transferred to the hospital for this. Shortly after the Qarchak doctor wrote her an MRI prescription, she and Golrokh were returned to Evin Prison, and although Athena suggested in Evin that she should go for an MRI, no one has listened to her so far.”

The source stated that prisoners are transferred to the hospital in two ways: "Sometimes the hospital doctor issues the order to send them or the hospital does not issue the transfer to the hospital, but the prisoner himself thinks that he should be transferred to a specialist doctor, and his family requests the transfer from the prosecutor's office. However, in the case of Atena, the doctor at Qarchak Prison prescribed an MRI for her, and she herself thinks that she needs to see a specialist doctor, however, this has not happened for nearly 10 months."

According to this source, Atena Daemi's family has always had trouble getting her transferred to the hospital: "Atena's father has to go to the prison's prosecutor many times and ask him, but now the prison's prosecutor has not accepted her at all for a long time. They think that since Atena is independent and can do her work in prison, she doesn't need a specialist."

Atena Daemi was first suspected of having MS in 2014 after she suffered from constant colds. However, a specialist examination at Sina Hospital revealed that she did not have MS. However, she needs an MRI and care again after experiencing severe headaches and numbness in her right eye. According to the source, Atena Daemi also suffers from high blood pressure and kidney and gallbladder stones after numerous food strikes.

Atena Daemi, a civil activist and former employee of the Enghelab Sports Club, was arrested on October 19, 2014 by the Revolutionary Guards’ Intelligence Organization and transferred to Evin Prison. Her trial was held on March 4, 2014 in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Moghiseh. She was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison on charges of “gathering and colluding and propaganda activities against the country,” “insulting the leadership and sacred places,” and “concealing evidence of a crime.” The judge imposed the maximum sentence for each of the charges on this civil activist. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which deals with the accumulation of sentences, she must serve seven years in prison.

The source also emphasized that the health condition of all women in Evin Prison is not good, saying : "Most of the women in the women's ward of this prison suffer from pain in their knees, back, and neck, and it is not clear exactly what the cause is. Also, due to the extremely unhealthy water in the prison, most of the prisoners suffer from kidney stones."

According to this source, prisoners have been deprived of hot water for a long time, and the constant use of cold water for bathing and washing is also causing one of the problems. It has been.

Source: Human Rights Campaign