Two prisoners died in Iranian jails this week after being denied medical treatment, while a third inmate — a political prisoner recently transferred to a hospital — remains in critical condition.
Jamileh Azizi, a financial crimes inmate at Gharchak prison near Tehran, died Friday evening after weeks of ignored pleas for hospital transfer, according to information obtained by Iran International.
“Azizi repeatedly requested medical care in recent weeks and was dismissed by prison authorities each time,” a source familiar with her case said.
“She finally showed symptoms of a stroke but was told by the prison clinic she had no problem. She died hours later inside prison.”
Her death was caused by deprivation of medical treatment, the Iran Human Rights Society wrote, noting that her bail had been secured and she was due for release. Her relatives directly blamed prison officials for her death.
Mohammad Manghali, also jailed for financial crimes in Yazd, died after suffering breathing difficulties and being accused of faking his illness, the human rights group HRANA reported Friday.
“The prison doctor dismissed his symptoms as malingering and he was left untreated,” a source close to his family told HRANA.
Political prisoner in critical condition
Human rights groups reported worsening health for political prisoner Somayeh Rashidi, 42, who was moved from prison to hospital on September 16. Doctors have told her family they see little chance of recovery.
Rashidi’s level of consciousness has dropped to five, with physicians warning that if it falls to three she will not survive.
Prison authorities withheld essential medical care for Rashidi for months despite her critical condition, Iran International previously reported.
She was arrested in April while writing slogans in a southern Tehran district and later transferred to Gharchak prison after Israel’s June 23 attack on Evin prison. Fellow inmates have said she was beaten during her arrest and denied treatment for her injuries.
“Prison and clinic officials give inmates random medication without specialist diagnosis just to silence them. In many cases this causes severe complications and even death,” a former prisoner told Iran International.
Earlier this month Iran International reported the death of Maryam Shahraki, held in a prison in Karaj, after misdiagnosis and denial of urgent transfer following chest pains.
“Safeguarding the lives of political and general prisoners, stopping executions, and releasing those in need of medical care is the first step toward real change in this country,” political prisoner Ahmadreza Haeri wrote from Ghezel Hesar prison earlier this month.
Last year, Haeri and two other detainees accused prosecutors of pursuing “systematic murder” by denying treatment.
Rights organizations have long documented medical neglect in Iranian prisons. The Islamic Republic systematically withholds care to punish and silence detainees, Human Rights Watch warned in April.
Denying prisoners access to doctors and treatment, the group said, amounts to torture under international standards.
