The deteriorating health of a toddler in Iran’s Urmia Central Prison has raised serious concerns about the treatment of political prisoners and their families under the Iranian regime. Two-year-old Ala (Solina) Khadirzadeh, the daughter of Kurdish political prisoner Soada Khadirzadeh, has been ill for more than 10 days. Despite her worsening condition, prison authorities have refused to provide medical treatment for the child, exacerbating the psychological strain on her mother.
Health Neglect in Urmia Central Prison
Ala has been suffering from an untreated illness for more than 10 days, which has significantly affected her mother’s mental state. Urmia Central Prison, located in West Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran, has come under scrutiny for its neglect of inmates and their families. A source familiar with the situation revealed that neither mother nor child has received medical care, even within the prison.
Soada Khadirzadeh has been incarcerated for more than three years and two months, serving over a quarter of her 12-year sentence. Reports indicate that her daughter has faced health challenges in the past due to poor sanitary conditions, lack of ventilation, and extreme heat in the women’s ward. In September 2023, Ala developed a skin condition under these conditions, but prison officials prevented her from being taken to an outside medical facility.
Saada Khadirzadeh’s Background
Soada Khadirzadeh was sentenced to 12 years and six months by the First Criminal Court of Mahabad for alleged involvement in the killing of a member of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and membership in the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. The verdict was officially conveyed to her family on September 6, 2022.
Her arrest occurred on October 14, 2021, in Piranshahr, a city in West Azerbaijan Province near the Iraqi border. Following her arrest, she was transferred to Urmia Central Prison on November 8, 2021. Soada, who gave birth via cesarean section while in custody on June 21, 2022, was returned to prison with her newborn after just one day in the hospital, without completing her postpartum recovery.
In her only instance of temporary release, on May 18, 2023, Soada traveled to a relative’s house in Piranshahr. She was rearrested the next day by Iranian intelligence forces and returned to prison within 48 hours.
Broader Implications
This case highlights the dire conditions faced by female political prisoners and their families in Iran. Soada Khadirzadeh has reportedly attempted suicide at least once during her incarceration. The lack of medical care and basic human rights underscores systemic issues within the Iranian regime’s prison system, which has been widely criticized by human rights organizations.
The international community—including human rights groups and advocacy organizations—must continue to pressure the Iranian regime to ensure humane treatment and adequate healthcare for all prisoners, particularly vulnerable children like Ala.
