A Look at the Female Political Prisoners Deprived of Medical Care
December 10, International Human Rights Day, serves as a powerful reminder of the foundational pillars of freedom of expression and human dignity. On this day, we honor the brave women and men who have kept the flame of human rights alive through their sacrifices and bloodshed.
For over four decades, the struggle for freedom, women’s equality, and the rejection of religious coercion has defined the confrontation between the Iranian people and the ruling regime. Throughout this time, Iranians have shown unparalleled courage in resisting tyranny.
Grim Human Rights Record in Iran
The clerical regime’s atrocities are infamous: executing teenage girls, killing elderly mothers and pregnant women, assassinating religious leaders of other faiths, and employing inhumane methods of torture. Tens of thousands of courageous women and girls who stood against this misogynistic dictatorship have faced brutal torture or execution.
Over the years, more than 100,000 of Iran’s finest citizens have sacrificed their lives fighting this regime. This includes the 30,000 political prisoners massacred in the summer of 1988 by a brief edict from Khomeini, the founder of the clerical regime.
Dr. Kazem Rajavi, a prominent martyr for human rights in Iran, once told The New York Times: “We are writing the history of human rights with our blood.” This year, the history of human rights in Iran has been further stained with the execution of nine political prisoners, death sentences for Kurdish, Baluch, Arab, and female political prisoners, as well as members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Facing a society on the brink of explosion, the clerical regime has resorted to escalating repression to suppress public outrage and prevent another uprising. In the past 11 months alone, close to 880 individuals, including 32 women, have been executed.
Additionally, the regime has recently passed a draconian, misogynistic law, mobilizing numerous state institutions to enforce mandatory veiling. This law is not only an assault on women but a declaration of war against society.
This article sheds light on the plight of some of the female political prisoners who remain victims of this brutal regime.
The Status of Female Political Prisoners in Iran
The Iranian regime spares no means in its quest to silence dissent. Arrest, torture, and lengthy imprisonment are just some of the measures used against those advocating for the most basic human rights for themselves and their fellow citizens.
One particularly inhumane tactic is the systematic denial of medical treatment for political prisoners, effectively subjecting them to a slow and agonizing death. This policy represents a blatant violation of fundamental human rights.
Following are the cases of some female political prisoners who are denied medical treatment as a means of punishment and torture:
- Zeinab Jalalian
As Iran’s longest-held female political prisoner, Zeinab has spent nearly 17 years in various prisons. At 42, this Kurdish activist suffers from gastrointestinal, kidney, and eye problems, among other serious health issues. Yet, the regime denies her treatment unless she agrees to collaborate and appear in televised confessions. She is presently detained in the Central Prison of Yazd. - Maryam Akbari Monfared
A 49-year-old mother of three, Maryam has endured 15 years in prison, with two additional years unjustly added to her sentence. Despite qualifying for release under the regime’s own laws, she remains incarcerated. Denied access to outside medical care, she suffers from liver disease, compounded by poor prison conditions.
The Ministry of Intelligence has prohibited her from visiting a doctor outside the prison. While the prison doctor has prescribed a special diet for her, her requests for appropriate food and access to a specialist have gone unanswered. Her physical condition has severely deteriorated due to inadequate nutrition and lack of medical care, resulting in various complications.
Maryam is currently held in Qarchak Prison under unsanitary conditions, mixed with non-political inmates, in violation of international norms.
- Zahra Safaei
A 62-year-old political prisoner who served eight years in the 1980s, Zahra suffers from severe heart conditions and hypertension. After enduring three years of imprisonment, she was released in February 2023, only to be re-arrested in September and sentenced to five years. She has been denied essential medical leave despite her inability to endure imprisonment. - Marzieh Farsi
A 59-year-old mother of two, Marzieh is battling cancer. After serving three years in prison, she was released in March 2023, only to be re-arrested in August and handed a 15-year sentence. - Raheleh Rahimi Pour
A 71-year-old civil rights activist, Raheleh is serving a six-year sentence for seeking justice for her brother and nephew, victims of the 1980s mass executions. Suffering from a brain tumor and multiple other ailments, her condition is deteriorating. Despite her age and health, the judiciary has denied her request for medical evaluations. - Parvin Mirasan
This 67-year-old political prisoner is serving a four-year sentence in Evin Prison. She suffers from multiple health conditions, including diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and joint problems, and occasionally experiences intestinal adhesions. She endures severe pain in her left knee, which frequently swells with fluid, making it extremely difficult for her to walk.
After months of being denied medical treatment, she was eventually sent to a hospital, where doctors determined that her left knee required surgery. However, instead of receiving the necessary operation, she was returned to prison after being given only painkillers.
Parvin Mirasan occasionally experiences severe forgetfulness and becomes unusually quiet, staring into space. At other times, she becomes suddenly talkative. Despite her numerous physical and neurological health issues, she has been denied referral to forensic medicine to assess her inability to endure imprisonment.
- Nejat Anvar Hamidi
This 69-year-old mother suffers from thyroid disorders, hypertension, and chronic migraines. She has cataracts in both eyes, which have caused bleeding due to lack of treatment. Despite her critical need for surgery and specialized care, authorities continue to block her access to medical treatment as a form of punishment. She is presently detained in the notorious Shaiban Prison of Ahvaz. - Fatemeh Ziaii (Hoori)
A 67-year-old political prisoner and mother of two, Fatemeh suffers from multiple sclerosis and severe infections. Her health has worsened significantly due to prolonged denial of treatment. - Azar Korvandi (Mosazadeh)
A political prisoner in her 60s, Azar has severe heart issues, with two blocked arteries requiring urgent care. Her requests for hospitalization have been ignored by Evin Prison authorities. - Massoumeh Yavari
Born in 1978, Massoumeh Yavari is a housewife and the mother of two children. She was arrested in September 2023 and is serving a 13-year sentence in Dowlatabad Prison of Isfahan. Massoumeh is very ill suffering from various illnesses, including heart disease, blocked arteries, and severe hypothyroidism. She has also undergone lumbar disc surgery. She is reportedly in dire conditions in prison.
- Sarvnaz Ahmadi
A 26-year-old children’s rights activist and social worker, Sarvnaz suffers from epilepsy and severe neurological issues. Despite her condition, she was granted only one week of medical leave before being forced back into prison. - Massoumeh Nassaji (Farah)
A 62-year-old with asthma and chronic bronchitis, Massoumeh is sentenced to 5 years and 4 months of prison time. Arrested in September 2022, she was subjected to 48 days of solitary confinement and torture. Despite medical reports confirming her inability to withstand imprisonment, she remains incarcerated. - Farzaneh Ghareh Hassanlou
A participant in the 2022 nationwide uprising, Farzaneh is serving a 25-year sentence in the Central Prison of Mashhad. Following surgery for a tumor, she was prematurely returned to prison, where she continues to be denied necessary treatment. - Reyhaneh Ansari Nejad
A 58-year-old labor activist serving a four-year sentence, Reyhaneh suffers from severe joint and spinal pain. Despite medical recommendations for physiotherapy, she has been denied access to proper treatment, exacerbating her condition. - Azam Khezri Javadi
This 67-year-old labor activist, currently imprisoned in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, suffers from multiple health conditions, including severe osteoporosis, and has been denied proper medical care. Due to an inability to absorb calcium, she requires specialized treatment and injections for osteoporosis but has not been transferred to a hospital. Despite her advanced age, a herniated disc, low white blood cell count, and significant hearing loss, her requests for medical leave have so far been denied.
These cases highlight the glaring injustices and widespread human rights violations in Iran’s prisons. On this International Human Rights Day, the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran renews its call for the United Nations and human rights organizations to send an independent international delegation to inspect Iran’s prisons and assess the conditions of prisoners, especially female political prisoners.
The collapse of Syria’s dictatorship, a long-time ally of the clerical regime in Iran, and the subsequent exposure of its atrocities in its prisons, underscore the urgent need for international scrutiny of Iran’s prison system.
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