Former political prisoner Hamid Ghaeinnezhad rearrested despite severe medical condition

Hengaw – Friday, May 15, 2026

Hamid Ghaeininezhad, a 60-year-old former political prisoner suffering from serious physical illnesses, was rearrested by Iranian government forces one month ago and transferred to Vakilabad Central Prison in Mashhad.

According to information obtained by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Ghaeininezhad was arrested on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in front of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad by Iranian security forces.

Sources told Hengaw that he was transferred to the quarantine ward of Vakilabad Prison under a temporary detention order issued by Branch 270 of the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Mashhad. He faces charges including “propaganda against the state during wartime.”

Since his arrest, he has been denied both family visits and phone contact.

The renewed detention of Ghaeininezhad comes despite the fact that he had previously been released from prison in 2022 after suffering a stroke while incarcerated. The stroke caused severe speech impairment, mobility disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Forensic medical authorities had confirmed that he was medically unfit to endure imprisonment, leading to his release.

Hamid Ghaeininezhad had previously been imprisoned between 2017 and 2020 and again from 2021 to 2022 due to his civil and political activities.

He has now been returned to prison despite his inability to independently manage basic personal needs because of his underlying medical conditions.