Iran: Activist Teacher Contracts COVID-19 in Evin Prison

Iran: Activist Teacher Contracts COVID-19 in Evin Prison

Published by on June 7, 2021

International Liberty Association: Human rights activist and retired teacher, Nahid Fathalian, has contracted the corona virus at the women’s ward of the notorious Evin Prison, in Tehran.
Ms. Fathalian needs to receive proper treatment, while her stay in prison would threaten the health of other prisoners in Women ward of Evin prison.

It should be mentioned that, Ms, Fathalian has been detained in the women’s ward of Evin Prison in legal limbo since April 2020, by the Intelligence services.

Intelligence services arrested Nahid Fathalian on 14 April 2020. She was taken under interrogation immediately after her arrest.

On 9 May 2020, she was transferred to a solitary cell in the Intelligence Ministry detention centre known as Ward 209 in Evin Prison. Her interrogations ended in early September, and she was transferred to the women’s ward of the prison.

The Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran was hold on 16 September 2020, to try her charges. The allegations levelled against Nahid Fathalian included “assembly and collusion against national security,” “propaganda against the state,” and “destruction of public properties.”
The Prosecutor said she participated in the November 2019 nationwide protests, and distributed posters and flyers protesting the living conditions of teachers and retirees.

However, the prison authorities have not tested other prisoners and have not separated Fathalian from other inmates putting them at risk of contracting the virus.

According to the record of death, Iran has suffered the worst corona virus outbreak in the Middle East.

In addition, during the pandemic, prisoners have complained of poor conditions and inadequate healthcare and the authorities neglect to minimize the risks of Covid-19 transmission and ignored the prisoners medical needs and requests.

During this time many human rights activists, from inside and outside the country, and many human rights lawyers have repeatedly warned the prison’s authorities of the grave dangers prisoners face amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

ILA: Iran political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders have been remained behind bars during the pandemic, although the official claims that a large number of prisoners have been freed on furlough as a precautionary measure.


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