Delays in treating sick prisoners have exacerbated their illness and have even caused deaths

The Centre for the Defender of Human Rights has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Mehr 1394 [Iranian month corresponding to 23 September to 22 October 2015]:

In continuation of its monthly reports, the Centre for the Defender of Human Rights has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran during the month of Mehr 1394 [Iranian month corresponding to 23 September to 22 October 2015].
The Centre for the Defender of Human Rights, which is presided over by Shirin Ebadi, has announced in its report that delays in treating sick prisoners has exacerbated their illness and has even led to their death and . The report has urged the Judiciary as the organ with the main responsibility for prisons, to take the necessary actions in order to improve the prison conditions, accelerate the treatment of sick prisoners and provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere for their necessary course of treatment.
This people-instituted organization has referred to the reports from prisoners and their families and has described the conditions in Iran’s prisons as non-standard, as they are without adequate health care facilities.
The Centre for the Defender of Human Rights has also pointed to the death of Shahrokh Zamani in the prison and has announced that delays in starting medical treatment of inmates in the prisons have caused irreparable losses.
Furthermore, in its report, which is published in both Farsi and English languages, this people-instituted organization has reviewed the situation of human rights in Iran under the three main headings of: “Civil and political rights”, “social and economic rights”, and “cultural heritage and the environment”.
According to the website of the Centre for the Defenders of Human Rights, the text of the report by the said centre for the month of Mehr 1394, which has been published on 3rd of Aban 1394 [25 October 2015], is as follows:
A Brief Report on Human Rights Situation in Iran in September-October 2015
Introduction:
According to the reports from prisoners and their families, the conditions in Iran’s prisons do not meet the standards and there is the lack of adequate health care facilities.
In some of the prisons, the number of prisoners is much higher than the capacity of the prison to the extent that some prisoners are forced to sleep in the corridor.
The prisons’ food situation is very unsatisfactory and insufficient. Prisoners should buy fruits, vegetables, meat and egg out of their own pockets from the shops at the prisons, and in such cases, these goods are sold several times more expensive than their actual market prices. In such a situation, of course, people who have little financial power do not have the means to buy food. Some of these individuals are forced to provide services for others, such as washing the clothes of other prisoners, in order to be able to afford the required food. This practice can in fact be considered as a type of forced labour.
Reports concerning the sanitary situation also point to the presence of unfavourable conditions in the prisons. Based on the reports, lice and ticks can be seen in prisons due to the restrictions on the use of hot water, which create problems for regular bathing.
The medical treatment facilities in prisons are also very meagre. In some jails, the clinics situated inside the prisons lack the basic medical treatment facilities. In addition, medical doctors are not always readily available in the prison and at times the delay in starting the treatment process has caused irreparable losses such as the death of many inmates during the past months and years in the prisons. The death of Shahrokh Zamani in prison is the latest example which can be mentioned.
On the other hand, if an ill prisoner needs to be hospitalized for complete treatment according to a medical certificate, he must also have the consent of the prosecutor in addition to the approval of the medical officials of the prison. As a result, political prisoners and the prisoners of conscience will be sent to hospital often too late, even with the agreement of the prison medical doctors. It is even more painful given the fact that the political prisoners and the prisoners of conscience often suffer even more humiliation than others, and their hand or feet are tied to the hospital bed with handcuffs, which effectively prevent any normal mobility by the patient. In such cases, we can refer to the situation of Saeed Razavi Faqih whose hand was tied to the bed with a handcuff after he had undergone an open heart surgery, or Narges Mohammadi, who has also been tied to her bed despite suffering from several seizures.
In addition, according to the regulations and rules of the prisons internal affairs, the treatment of ill prisoners is the duty of the prison authorities, but according to the existing practice, the prisoners must pay the cost of medical services themselves. This is a serious obstacle in the way of sick prisoners receiving medical treatment due to the high costs of treatment.
This monthly report also provides a summary of the human rights situation in Iran during the month of Mehr [23 September to 22 October 2015], as follows. The report is based on information published by various media channels and websites, whose accuracy has been verified. The report is appearing under three separate sections, and in Farsi and English languages.

Human Rights Situation in Iran in September-October 2015
Section 1: Civil, Cultural and Political Rights
A) Situation of Nonconformist Political and Social Activists
1. During this month, about 20 people were detained and the names of them have been specified, who were Mohammad Krimi, Amin Anvari, Ezatolah Jafari – three civil activists; Naser Tuqiri – a university student activist – Ali Faezpur and Valeh Zamani – two labour activists – Mahmud Azimi and Fatemeh Ziaei Azad – two previous political prisoners – Amin Zandnia – a trade union activist; Amin Zandnia’s wife – a citizen; Mohammad Baraei – a Sunni clergyman; Hassan Sheikhaqaye – a media activist; Morteza Nematollahi – a religious activist.
On the other hand, some news sources have reported the detention of Sina Ershadi – a civil activist; Alireza Shariat Panahi – a previous political prisoner; and Abdolrahim Gorgij, Abdolhakim Gorgij, Jome Gorgij, Mohammad Baluch and Ebrahim Zarin – five Baluch citizens.
It should be noted that some of the detainees were released temporarily on bail after a few days until the date of their trial.
2. Nima Hassani – a civil activist – was sent to prison to spend one month in jail; Azam Motahari (Etehad) – a Baha’i citizen – was sent to prison to serve one year in jail; Nategheh Naeimi (Baghi) – a Baha’i citizen – was transferred to jail to serve two years imprisonment term; Hassan Rasulnejad – a labour activist – was sent to prison to serve six months imprisonment term; Abdolahad Jalilzadeh – a fan of Mystic Ring (Erfan-e Halqeh) – was sent to prison to spend five years in jail and Vahid Jafari – a citizen – was sent to jail to serve a sentence of four month imprisonment.
3. Fatemeh Ekhtesari – a poet – was sentenced to 11 and half years imprisonment term in addition to 99 lashes; Seyyed Mehdi Musavi – a poet – was sentenced to nine years in jail plus 99 lashes; Keyvan Karimi – a film-maker – was sentenced to six years in jail plus 223 lashes; Saeed Shirzad – a civil activist who is currently serving a sentence in prison – was sentenced to another five years of imprisonment; Soheil Arabi – a internet activist who is currently in prison – was sentenced to a further 90 months in jail, in addition to being ordered to spend two years carrying out research on religious issues in order to prove his repentance, which would also bring about his salvation from the death penalty; Jafar Rostami Rad – a civil activist – was sentenced to six months imprisonment term; Rasul Razavi, Hossein Rakhshanikia and Soendik Lotfi – three civil activist – were sentenced to one year imprisonment each. Six months of each of these sentences have been suspended for two years.
4. The court trial sessions of Majid Azarpey – a political and media activist – and Tara Nuri, Shiva Ruhani and Navid Moalem – three Baha’i citizens – were held. Also, Seyyed Mostafa Tajzadeh – a member of the Mojahedin Organization of the Islamic Revolution, who is currently in prison; Mohammad Mahdavifar – a poet; Mohammad Mehdi Nekunam – a citizen – and Seyyed Hassan Shirazi – a religious activist – have been summoned to the court.
5. The relevant officials are preventing the application of Article 134 to the case of Maryam Akbari Monfared.

B) Situation Regarding Cultural Rights
1. The press jury has found “Goal” and “Ruzan” sport newspapers guilty.
2. Access to the “Ravangah” news – analaysis website has been blocked.
3. The relevant officials have prevented stage performances for plays entitled “Parviz and Puneh”, “85 Years Old” and “Hamsafar-e Eshq” [The Fellow Traveller of Love].
4. The relevant officials have refused to issue official permits for planned concerts by the [pop-fusion music band] “Dangsho” group in Bushehr and Esfehan.

C) Other Instances of Human Rights Abuse
1. Some 18 individuals were executed in this month. The complete names of some of them are still not clear but judicial authorities or government-controlled media have confirmed their executions. Some of the names are as follows:
“Dariush Shirazi”, “Majid Javanmard” and “Morteza Bayat” were executed in Rajaei Shahr Prison; “Aliyar” was executed in Qazvin, “M-T” and “M-Ch” were executed in Bandarabbas and “M-Y” was executed in Mashhad. Judiciary officials have said their crime was murder. “Fatemeh Salbehi” was executed in Shiraz and “Samad Zahabi” was executed in Kermanshah. The news media announced that they have been found guilty of the crime of first degree murder, which they committed while there were still under the age of 18.
In addition, “Nariman-J”, “Yaser-H” and “Naser-P” were executed in Kazerun in public. Judiciary officials have said they had been convicted of the crime of murder and armed robbery. Khorasan Newspaper has reported the execution of one individual due to the crime of first degree murder without mentioning his name.
“M-M”, “R-H” and “Q-A” were executed in Rasht. A Judiciary official has said these individuals were found guilty of the crime of possession and transportation of drugs. Moreover, a Judiciary official has reported the execution of two individuals in Ardabil, without giving their names, due to the crime of possession and transportation of drugs.
2. The state-controlled media have reported the confirmation of the death sentence against “Kamran” due to the crime of murder and against an unnamed individual for the crime of murder. Accordingly, the death sentences for two unnamed individuals for the crime of raping and murdering a teenage girl.
3. The health situation of some political prisoners is still reported to be unfavourable to the extent that some of them – such as Mostafa Azizi, Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, Omid Kokabi, Afshin Baymani, Masud Arab Chubdar, Arjang Davudi and Reyhaneh Hajebrahim Dabagh – are sick but no serious action has been taken to provide them with medical treatment.
4. Hadi Eqbali was transferred to Rajaei Shahr Prison, Mohammad Amin Abdollahi was transferred to Birjand Prison, and Kasra Nuri was transferred to Evin Prison. It should be noted these transfers have been carried out without any specific reason and in contravention of the regulations and rules of the prisons internal affairs.
5. Amin Anvari’s mother was barred from visiting her son in jail, after participating in a rally in Tehran
6. The Police has reported the detention of a female model and singer in Alborz Province without mentioning her name, as well as two administrators of “Radio Javan” website in Tehran and a woman who was the manager of a wedding dress and accessories shop in Rasht. None of these detainees has been named.
Section 2: Social and Economic Rights
1. Reports concerning the social and economic situation also point to the continued presence of unfavourable conditions in these areas during the month of Mehr. For example: the wages of 75 workers of Lushan municipal have not been paid for three months; 450 contract workers of Ahvaz Urban Railroad have not been paid for eight months;150 workers on “PVC” Factory have not been paid for six months;, some of the workers of phases 22 and 24 of Asaluyeh Especial Zone have not received their salaries for three months, 20 drivers of University of Medical Sciences in Shustar have not been paid for three months; some of the workers of Shustar municipal have not received their wage for seven months, 100 workers of Durud Steel and Cast Iron Factory have not been paid for four months, the salaries of 95 workers of “Gostaresh Manasaz” Factory have not been paid for two and half months; 150 workers of Badr Barq Electrical Company in Setareh Khalije Fars Refinery have not received their wages for three months; 60 workers of “Malach Aram” Coal Mine have not been paid for seven and half months; some of the workers of “Zemestan Yurt” Coal Mine have not been paid for six months; 40 workers of Construction and Installment of Petrochemical Industries have not received any pay for three months; the salaries of 150 workers of Taban Shahr Company have not been paid for three months; some of the contract workers of phase 13 in Asaluyeh have not been for eight months; 300 workers of “Elegant” Factory have not been paid for three months and 300 contract workers of Ahvaz water and sewage Company have not received their wages and benefits for three months, at the time of compilation of this report.
2. Some 105 workers of Argo Industry of Karun Shustar, 50 workers of Carbonate Sodium in Semnan, 75 contract workers of Tehran Cement, seven contract workers “Arman Shafaq” Factory, 30 technical workers of Kermanshah municipal, 150 contract workers of “Gharb Steel” Factory after the end of their contracts, 20 contract workers of “Sadid Rikhtehgar” Factory, 20 workers of “Noavaran Abari” auto parts manufacturing factory, 400 workers of Hadid Mobtakeran Factory, 100 workers of Zemestan Yurt Mine, five workers of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex in Kerman, the contract of 60 workers with temporary contract in “Kosar Pharmaceutical Company” were not renewed, 106 contract workers of “Shishesh Abgineh” Factory, 18 workers of Azadi Sport Complex, all of the contract workers of factory 1 and 2 of Sanaye Felezi (Metal Industries), 22 contract workers of Pars Metal Factory, 300 workers of “Parmida” Rubber Industry after the end of their contracts and nine workers of Tundguyan Petrochemical have been sacked from their jobs.
In addition, 80 workers of Eram Funfair in Tehran were made unemployed due to the closure of that complex; 300 workers of “Pars Milang” Factory in Takestan and 35 workers of “Arsalan Lastik” Factory were also laid off.
3. Some 50 thousand hectares of agricultural lands belonging to Ziaolah Motearefi – a Baha’i citizen – have been confiscated by the order of a court.
4. Osman Bijarzehi and two other employees of Khatamol Anbia Hospital in Iranshahr were sacked from their jobs and sent to exile.
Section 3: Cultural Heritage and Environment
1. Valiollah Sa’adati – a conscript soldier – has been killed in Kermanshah due to land mine explosion. Daeish Hamidi, Hadi Chandaleh and Nuruz Khatarji – three citizens – were also killed in Dehloran due to mine explosion. In addition, Ramezan Hamidi – a citizen –and Seyyed Mola Sepahideh – a minesweeper – were injured due to mine explosions in the districts of Dehloran and Sumar, respectively.
2. The pollution level and the density of dust concentration in air in the cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr were eight times higher than the permissible levels.
3. A Qajar Dynasty house in Udlajan Neighborhood [of Tehran], which was registered as a national monument, and two historical houses in the historical zone of the town of Abarkuh were destroyed.
Conclusion:
At the end of the report for the month of Mehr of 1394, the Centre for the Defender of Human Rights has announced that delays in treating sick prisoners have exacerbated their illnesses and have even led to their deaths. The Centre has urged the Judiciary, as the organ with the main responsibility for prisons, to take the necessary actions in order to improve the conditions in prisons, accelerate the treatment of sick prisoners and provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere for their necessary course of treatment.

Note: For further information regarding the above reports, please refer to the following news websites: Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Fars news agency, Mehr news agency, Young Journalists Club news agency, CDHR website, JARAS, Committee of Human Rights Reporters, Nedaye Azadi, Baztab, HRANA, Ghanoon, Kaleme, Mohebbat News, Sunni Online, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Majzooban-e Noor, Melli Mazhabi, Nedaye Sabze Azadi, Radio Zamaneh, Radio Farda and BBC.