Raheleh Rahemipour, a 71-year-old civil rights activist in Iran, is enduring severe health issues while serving a six-year prison sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison.
Mrs. Rahemipour is persecuted for seeking justice for her disappeared family. Despite her deteriorating condition, the Iranian regime has refused to transfer her medical file for an independent review. This refusal highlights the broader issue of medical negligence toward political prisoners in Iran.
Raheleh Rahemipour, who is currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, Tehran, has been suffering from multiple health conditions, including a brain tumor. At 71 years old, her physical state has significantly declined, making it extremely difficult for her to endure the harsh conditions of incarceration.
Recently, Mrs. Rahemipour requested that her medical file be sent to the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (similar to a medical review board) for further evaluation, hoping for some form of relief or medical furlough.
However, on September 3, 2024, Rahemipour was informed that the prosecutor’s office denied this request. The denial was allegedly linked to her participation in a sit-in protest and her solidarity with fellow inmates. This decision has raised concerns among human rights organizations, as it seems to punish Rahemipour further for her activism and resistance.
Rahemipour was previously hospitalized in late January 2024 due to her poor health. She was admitted to the hospital for two days, during which she underwent a heart angiography before being returned to Evin Prison. Her health condition has been a recurring issue, yet the clerical regime has continuously failed to provide adequate medical care.
Raheleh Rahemipour’s ordeal began on November 12, 2019, when she was arrested in Tehran by security forces. She was detained at Evin Prison’s notorious Ward 2A, controlled by the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). After some time, Rahemipour was temporarily released but was later charged with “collusion and propaganda against the regime.” Her trial was held on June 16, 2020, at Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, where she was ultimately sentenced to six years in prison.
In November 2023, Raheleh Rahemipour was again arrested after appearing at the Evin Court and was subsequently imprisoned to serve her sentence.
The case of Raheleh Rahemipour exemplifies the Iranian regime’s systemic neglect of the health and rights of political prisoners. Despite her advanced age and serious medical conditions, the regime’s refusal to allow an independent medical review reflects its broader policy of suppressing dissent. As Rahemipour and other political prisoners continue to suffer, international pressure on the Iranian government remains crucial in advocating for their basic human rights and medical care.
