The Iranian regime continues to intensify its crackdown on political dissent, as evidenced by the harrowing cases of Pakhshan Azizi, Varisha Moradi, and Sarvnaz Ahmadi. These reports detail the severe human rights abuses, including unjust sentencing, prolonged detention, and denial of medical care, faced by these political prisoners within the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.
New Case Against Pakhshan Azizi for Alleged “Prison Riots”
Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death in Evin Prison in Tehran, has been charged with “rioting in prison” in a new case opened by the Third Branch of the Evin Prison Prosecutor’s Office. This accusation is related to events surrounding the second round of the Iranian presidential election held in June 2024.
On July 25, 2024, Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish political prisoner, journalist, and social work graduate, was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court after nearly a year in detention. The court found her guilty of “armed insurgency” (known as “bagh-ye”) due to her alleged membership in a Kurdish opposition party. Additionally, three members of her family were sentenced to imprisonment.
The death sentence was issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, which accused her of “armed insurgency” through her involvement with a Kurdish opposition party. Moreover, Azizi was sentenced to four years in prison for “membership in groups opposing the regime.”
This sentence was handed down despite Azizi being denied access to a lawyer and family visits during the eight months of her detention and interrogation. Her trial took place in May 2024, and the verdict was communicated to her lawyer on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Simultaneously, three of her family members were each sentenced to one year in prison for allegedly “assisting a criminal to evade prosecution and conviction.”
Over a Year of Uncertainty: Varisha Moradi’s Ongoing Detention in Evin Prison
Varisha Moradi, another political detainee, has been denied phone calls and family visits for over three months. Accused of “armed insurgency,” Varisha Moradi has remained in a state of legal limbo in Evin Prison for more than a year since her arrest.
Moradi was arrested by security forces on July 31, 2023, in the outskirts of Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Province in western Iran. After completing the interrogation process, she was transferred on December 26, 2023, from the Ministry of Intelligence detention center (known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison) to the women’s ward of Evin Prison.
Sarvnaz Ahmadi in Critical Condition, Denied Medical Treatment
Sarvnaz Ahmadi, a children’s rights activist imprisoned in Evin, is in dire need of medical treatment, according to her doctor. However, the case officers have denied her request for medical leave.
On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Ahmadi was taken to a neurologist outside of Evin Prison. The specialist, appointed by the judiciary, described her condition as extremely critical and urgently requested medical leave in a letter to prison officials. Sarvnaz Ahmadi, who has served one-third of her three-and-a-half-year sentence, is legally eligible for medical leave and conditional release. However, security authorities are preventing her from accessing these rights.
Ahmadi’s severe neurological condition, including seizures and intense muscle contractions, was triggered by an attack by security forces on a hunger strike by female prisoners in the women’s ward. She was previously transferred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran following a seizure on Thursday.
Sarvnaz Ahmadi was arrested on April 27, 2023, just before International Workers’ Day, along with several labor and union activists at the home of Mohammad Habibi, a prominent teachers’ union leader, and later transferred to Evin Prison.
Ongoing and Severe Human Rights Abuses
These three reports highlight the ongoing and severe human rights abuses faced by political prisoners in Iran, particularly activists challenging the Iranian regime. The cases of Pakhshan Azizi, Varisha Moradi, and Sarvnaz Ahmadi expose the regime’s systematic denial of due process, legal representation, and medical care, underscoring the brutal conditions within Iran’s prisons.
The plight of these prisoners, subjected to prolonged detention, harsh sentences, and life-threatening neglect, reflects the broader repression faced by dissenters in Iran. These incidents call for increased international attention and urgent action to address the violations of fundamental rights within the Iranian prison system.
