Islamic Scholar Diagnosed With Heart Disease In Evin Prison, Loses Sight

Imprisoned Islamic scholar Sedigheh Vasmaghi has contracted heart disease in notorious Evin Prison and has lost her sight, leaving her dependent on inmates' support.

Her husband announced the news on Thursday about the high profile prisoner, a staunch critic of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his compulsory hijab policy.

“She had not had any heart problems prior to her arrest. I hope it is not a serious illness and is only caused by the pressure of the prison,” said Mohammad Ebrahimzadeh.

According to him, Vasmaghi went to the clinic of Evin Prison one month ago with symptoms such as chest pain but the authorities at first refused to send her to hospital, giving her only “medicines at hand.”

“They were finally convinced that her problem was serious and sent her to Taleghani Hospital, where she was kept in the ICU only for one night,” Ebrahimzadeh went on to say. Vasmaghi is just one in a long line of sick prisoners not given sufficient, if any, access to medical care while incarcerated.

He also revealed that she has now completely lost her vision due to a long-running genetic condition and is dependent upon other inmates to perform even basic everyday tasks.

Mahmaoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, Vasmaghi’s lawyer, told Rouydad24 news website that a forensic doctor's report has been sent to the prosecutor urging her immediate release from prison due to her health conditions.

Security forces arrested Vasmaghi on March 16 and subsequently transferred her to Evin Prison. The arrest came after the scholar described Khamenei as a dictator, slamming the compulsory hijab laws which have been at the heart of the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement, triggered by the death in morality-police custody of Mahsa Amini.

In a statement issued earlier this month, 320 Iranian political and civil activists urged her release, saying the scholar “has shown over the past four decades her care and concern for both Iran and Islam.”