Iranian Political Prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri’s Health Deteriorates

Fatemeh Sepehri, a political prisoner at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, is reportedly in critical condition, according to her lawyer, Khosrow Ali-Kordi.

Ali-Kordi warned, "Due to an elevated heart rate, my client can hardly speak, and her respiratory condition is a serious concern."

In a social media video, Sepehri's brother, Asghar Sepehri, revealed, "In Tuesday's meeting, my sister's heart rate was so high that speaking was difficult for her."

The family holds the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic responsible for the imprisonment of Sepehri, as emphasized by her mother in the video, stating that if anything happens to her, Ali Khamenei would be accountable.

Imprisoned since September 21, 2022 amid the Women, Life, Freedom protests, Sepehri faces severe charges, including "collaboration with hostile countries" resulting in a 10-year sentence, "conspiracy and collusion" leading to five years of imprisonment, "insulting the leadership" resulting in two years of imprisonment, and "propaganda against the system" leading to one year of imprisonment.

Despite a brief release in October 2022 for medical treatment, Sepehri was re-arrested three days later at her home in Mashhad by security forces.

She is the latest in a long line of prisoners such as rapper Toomaj Salehi and Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi, whose lives remain threatened in the confines of Iranian prisons.