Hajar Saeedi, a labor and women’s rights activist from Sanandaj, a city in western Iran, has entered the second year of her five-year prison sentence. Her health is reportedly deteriorating as she suffers from heart and lung diseases, raising serious concerns about her well-being.
Hajar Saeedi was transferred to Sanandaj Central Prison on November 18, 2023 to begin serving a five-year prison sentence. Initially, it was reported that she was sentenced to one year in prison; however, further investigations revealed that a previously suspended five-year sentence had been enforced.
In an earlier case, Saeedi was convicted by Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion through forming a communist cell” and “acting against national security.” Her sentence of two years in prison was later reduced to one year by Branch 4 of the Sanandaj Appeals Court.
Health Crisis and Prison Conditions
Saeedi completed the first year of her five-year sentence in November 2024 and is now serving the second year. Despite her severe health issues, including heart and lung diseases, she has been denied medical leave and adequate treatment. Over the past 13 months, she was granted only 10 days of medical leave, a duration grossly insufficient given her condition.
Adding to her family’s worries, Saeedi is being held in a ward with inmates convicted of dangerous crimes, which poses additional risks to her safety.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Hajar Saeedi’s ordeal began on May 17, 2023, when she was arrested alongside seven other labor and civil rights activists during a raid by Iranian intelligence forces. The raid took place at the home of the late Hooman Abdollahi, a protester killed during the November 2022 protests in Sanandaj. Saeedi was released on bail amounting to 5 billion rials (approximately $10,000) on June 18, 2023, pending trial.
However, on November 18, 2023, she was summoned to Branch 4 of the Enforcement Office at the Sanandaj Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office. Following her appearance, she was detained and sent back to Sanandaj Central Prison to serve her sentence.
Hajar Saeedi’s case highlights the plight of political prisoners in Iran, particularly women activists who are often subjected to harsh prison conditions and inadequate medical care. Her ongoing detention and lack of access to proper treatment underscore the broader human rights concerns within the Iranian regime’s judicial system.
