Abdolhadi Sheykhepour dies at Mahabad prison after denial of medical care

Hengaw — Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Abdolhadi Sheykhepour, a prisoner from Sardasht held at Mahabad prison, died after being denied medical care, despite having completed his prison sentence days earlier.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Sheykhepour, a father of two, died on Sunday, December 14, 2025, inside Mahabad prison. He had been unable to move from his bed for at least two days prior to his death and did not receive medical attention during that period.

Sources familiar with the case said that despite his critical physical condition, Sheykhepour was not transferred to the prison clinic in the two days leading up to his death. Prison authorities later informed his family that he had died of cardiac arrest.

Sheykhepour had been arrested nearly three years earlier on “drug-related charges” and sentenced to three years in prison. Although he had completed his sentence several days before his death, his release was delayed for unknown reasons.