Saye Seidal’s hunger strike persists in Evin Prison despite critical health condition

Hengaw – Monday, June 2, 2025

Saye Seidal, a political prisoner currently serving her sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison, is continuing her hunger strike despite a serious deterioration in her health.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Seidal was returned to Evin Prison on Monday, June 2, 2025, just 12 hours after being transferred to a hospital for urgent medical evaluation.

Her return came despite her critical condition. Medical tests have confirmed the presence of a hemorrhagic cyst, raising serious concerns about her health and the lack of appropriate treatment.

Seidal began her hunger strike on May 26, 2025, in protest against the authorities’ ongoing denial of adequate medical care. She has stated her determination to continue the strike until her demands are met.

Earlier this year, on February 4, she was granted temporary medical furlough. However, during a visit to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office, she was physically assaulted for failing to comply with mandatory hijab regulations.

Seidal was first arrested on October 7, 2024, by security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

She was later sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to two years in prison and a fine of 56 million toman on charges including “spreading false information.”

In a separate case, in October 2023, the same court—presided over by Judge Iman Afshari—sentenced her to one year in prison and a fine of 15 million toman. Although that sentence was initially suspended for five years, it was later enforced following a subsequent conviction.

Seidal was initially detained on June 21, 2023, in Tehran and held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, operated by the Ministry of Intelligence. She was released on bail on July 23, 2023, pending the completion of judicial proceedings.