Evin Prison inmates urge medical care for jailed Nobel laureate

A group of 22 female inmates at Evin Prison have issued a plea for the immediate medical care of their fellow inmate, renowned human rights activist Narges Mohammadi.

The women have expressed grave concerns over Mohammadi’s deteriorating health, citing severe chest pain due to a heart condition, a lump in her breast and chronic back pain.

Despite requests from medical professionals, including specialists and the prison’s medical department, prison authorities have repeatedly denied Mohammadi’s transfer to a hospital citing orders from superiors.

The inmates' letter also raised concerns about the broader issue of medical neglect in Evin Prison and highlighted dire conditions faced by those labeled "security prisoners." The term is mainly used for political prisoners and detained protesters.

The signatories argue that if these women were ordinary prisoners, they likely would have been granted parole on medical grounds.

Denial of necessary medical treatment has sparked outrage among the prison population and human rights advocates.

Iranian authorities are subjecting Mohammadi to torture by deliberately denying her healthcare, Amnesty International said in a post on X on Thursday.

Earlier in October, Mohammadi’s family issued a statement accusing Iran's security and judicial authorities of preventing her from being transferred to a hospital for an angiography procedure on several occasions.

Mohammadi had a 75% blockage in her main artery in 2022, when a stent was placed, according to a member of her family. An angiography helps diagnose a heart problem and may be a medical necessity for someone with an arterial stent.

Mohammadi has faced multiple arrests, trials, and prison sentences due to her human rights advocacy. Over the years, she has been detained numerous times, spending approximately six years in prison for her activism. Most recently, she was arrested in November 2021 and was sentenced to a total of 13 years and 9 months in prison, with additional charges still pending.

In addition to imprisonment, Mohammadi has been sentenced to 154 lashes, four months of community service as a street cleaner, a two-year travel ban, a two-year ban on using smartphones, monetary fines and exile.

One of her latest court hearings, held in her absence in June, addressed new charges of “propaganda against the state.” These were brought against her for speaking out about sexual harassment and assault allegations against imprisoned journalist Dina Ghalibaf and for advocating the boycott of elections. This week, a Tehran court sentenced her to six more months in prison for charges of assaulting a prison guard.