Shiva Esmaeli, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, continues to be denied urgent surgery for a herniated disc, despite her family’s readiness to cover all medical expenses.
According to a letter issued by the prison infirmary and signed by a physician identified as Dr. Maleki, Evin Prison lacks the necessary medical facilities to perform the required spinal surgery. The document instructs Shiva Esmaeli to inform her family to schedule an appointment with an outside specialist at their own expense for her examination and treatment.
Although Esmaeli’s family has repeatedly offered to pay for all medical care and procedures, the Ministry of Intelligence has blocked the surgery, a prohibition that remains in effect.
Despite these ongoing bureaucratic and security obstacles to her operation, prison authorities and relevant decision-making bodies remain legally and morally responsible for her physical health and medical condition.
This is not the first time Shiva Esmaeli has been deprived of critical care. In September 2026, prison officials similarly blocked her surgery, even though severe pain had impaired her mobility.
Who is Shiva Esmaeli?
Born in 1965, Shiva Esmaeli is the mother of three children. She holds a degree in agricultural engineering and is a resident of Tehran.
Shiva Esmaeili was arrested in November 2020 on political grounds without legal transparency and has since endured years of imprisonment and resistance behind bars.
On May 14, 2023, after months of uncertainty, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court handed down her sentence: five years for “assembly and collusion against national security,” one year for “propaganda against the state,” and four years for “acting against national security.” As supplementary punishment, Shiva Esmaeli was also banned from leaving the country and from engaging in political and social activities for two years.
