Urgent Concerns Regarding the Deteriorating Health of Political Prisoner Fateme Sepehari in Mashhad Central Prison
Fateme Sepehari, a political prisoner who has been serving a three-month sentence in Mashhad's
Hengaw: Thursday, December 21, 2023
Fateme Sepehari, a political prisoner who has been serving a three-month sentence in Mashhad's Central Prison, is experiencing severe physical and mental distress. Despite her condition, prison authorities are reluctant to facilitate her transfer to medical facilities outside the prison.
According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, 59-year-old political prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri is being denied necessary medical treatment while enduring significant physical pain and mental pressure within the Mashhal Central Prison.
In a statement posted on his personal page, Asghar Sepehri, Fatemeh Sepehri's brother, expressed deep concern about his sister's health. He noted, "My sister's health condition is alarming. Due to psychological pressure from the prison authorities, her heart rate is consistently high. The prison healthcare only provides injections and sleeping drugs."
Asghar Sepehri further highlighted that despite a recent "cabin meeting" on Tuesday, December 19, his sister is unable to sleep due to severe pain in her left hand, impeding her ability to move her fingers. Although a surgeon recommended physiotherapy last week, no action has been taken by the head of the women's department, Leila Raminfar, and her deputy, Rahimzadeh. Fatemeh Sepehri has also reported eye pain and dryness to prison authorities, yet they refuse to arrange a specialist examination.
Fateme Sepehari, a mother of four children, was apprehended by security forces at her Mashhad residence on September 21, 2023, to serve a ten-year prison sentence. She was subsequently taken to the city's central prison.
Previously sentenced to 18 years in prison by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad for charges including "collaboration with hostile countries" and "insulting Khamenei," Fateme Sepehri is subject to the Consolidation of Sentences Law, with ten years being applicable.
It is noteworthy that Fateme Sepehri is among the signatories of a statement by 14 political and civil activists, calling for the resignation of Ali Khamenei from the position of "leadership" and advocating for fundamental changes in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
