Human rights sources: The situation of some political prisoners is dire

According to human rights activists in Iran, political prisoners Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, Sepideh Qolyan, and Mohammad Houshangi are in poor physical condition. Vahedian has been taken to the hospital and Qolyan has contracted the coronavirus.

Human rights activists in Iran say that Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, a teacher and civil activist, was transferred to Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad on Saturday night, March 28, due to his poor physical condition, and was returned to the detention center this morning by security forces, disregarding the doctors’ advice. The HRANA news website reported that Vahedian Shahroudi has spent the past six months in a solitary confinement cell in Mashhad’s Intelligence Detention Center.

It is said that his poor physical condition was accompanied by symptoms of poisoning, shortness of breath, and a low heart rate, and he was released from prison on the orders of doctors due to his urgent need for medical attention.

A source told Harana news agency that during the presence of Shahroudi's units, the hospital's security officers did not allow him to contact his family. This issue has increased concern about his condition.

Amnesty International had previously asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Abbas Vahidian "immediately and unconditionally".

Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi is a teacher, writer, and civil activist living in Mashhad province who was arrested on Wednesday, September 1. A few days after his arrest, he announced in a phone call to his family that a new case had been opened under the title of “Acting Against National Security.”

Shahroudi had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court in another case.

Sepideh Qalyan's life is in danger.

Human rights activists say that the physical condition of Sepideh Gholian, a civil activist imprisoned in Bushehr Prison, has also deteriorated after contracting the coronavirus, and her life is in danger.

According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Sepideh Qolyan has contracted the coronavirus and is suffering from stomach bleeding. Her condition is deteriorating and her life is in danger. Despite this, she has been transferred to prison quarantine and her condition is not being addressed.

Also, the prisoner's release has not been approved, and his family's repeated requests have not yielded any results.

This civil activist was arrested in November 2018 during the Khuzestan labor protests along with labor activist Esmaeil Bakhshi and a number of workers from the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Farming and Industry Company. He was transferred to prison on May 29, 2019.

Mohammad Houshangi's hunger strike continues and he is transferred to solitary confinement.

According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, detained Kurdish activist Mohammad Houshangi was transferred to solitary confinement on the orders of prison officials while on a hunger strike.

He is said to have been on a hunger strike since March 25 in protest of his long-term detention and the opposition of the IRGC Intelligence Organization to his temporary release despite posting bail.

Mohammad Houshangi was arrested on January 11, 2020, by the IRGC Intelligence Organization forces in Tehran and transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Organization's 7 Tir detention center in Urmia.

According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, after being held in this detention center for 6 months, he was transferred to Urmia Central Prison with a temporary detention order.

Source: DW