Reports from inside the Central Prison of Mashhad indicate that political prisoner Shokouh-oz Zaman Majd has contracted the Corona virus and is in dire health condition.
Mrs. Majd, 61 from Neyshabur, was taken to jail on March 5, 2021 without prior notice, and without being allowed to take her personal items of need. She is sentenced to 2 years’ imprisoned on charges of “propaganda against the state” and supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
Political prisoner Shokouh-oz Zaman Majd had been previously detained for seven months but released on bail. She was subsequently summoned again and taken to jail to serve her sentence without prior notice.
Shokouh oz-Zaman Majd has contracted the Corona virus and is in dire health conditions, while deprived of essential medical care and treatment.
The Corona virus has plagued all Iranian prisons and inmates are not provided masks, gloves, disinfectants, adequate food and detergents to help them avoid being affected. Due to overcrowding of all Iranian prisons, social distancing is impossible. Most prisons do not observe the quarantine period for new arrivals and send them directly to the wards and among other prisoners without testing them.
Earlier reports indicated that 21 women in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison were sick with the COVID-19. They are abandoned and denied medical care and adequate food while having the symptoms of the disease including chest pain, dry coughs and fever.
The women’s ward of the Central Prison of Mashhad, also known as Vakilabad Prison, is one of the most notorious in the country. Some 700 inmates are detained in seven wards without separation of crimes.
The food quality is poor, and inmates have problems in having access to the medical center whether inside the prison or outside. There is only one general practitioner and one gynecologist in the health center, and if prisoners request to be transferred to out-of-prison medical centers, their request will be answered within 7 to 10 days. Contrary to the rules of the Prisons Organization, the cost of treatment is borne by the prisoners.
