Jailed Human Rights Activist, Saeed Eghbali, at Risk of Hearing Loss

Jailed Human Rights Activist, Saeed Eghbali, at Risk of Hearing Loss

Published by on December 1, 2020

International Liberty Association: Human Rights activist Saeed Eghbali is at risk of hearing loss in one of his ears. He is held in Evin prison since May this year. Iranian authorities continue to refuse to transfer him to a hospital outside the Evin Prison.
He was arrested by the security forces violently in 2017, which caused a 70% rupture of the right eardrum and infection due to that damage.

His ear infection has worsened and he is suffering from severe pain. The only treatment that he was given is simple painkillers which is not a permanent treatment.

According to this human rights activist prisoner, the prison’s doctor has repeatedly prescribed that he must undergo surgery immediately otherwise he will completely lose his hearing, but authorities told his family that they had not yet received a letter from the prison medical staff stating that Saeed was in critical condition and needed surgery.

It should be mentioned that according to Article 520 of Iran’s Criminal Code, prisoners suffering from acute illnesses are eligible for five days of leave if approved by the prosecutor. Article 522 states that prisoners who require medical treatment outside the prison for non-urgent issues are eligible for release for a period of time determined by a criminal court judge.

Also, the UN’s Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which all UN Member States are expected to abide by, says: “…Sick prisoners who require specialist treatment shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals.”

Saeed Eghbali was first arrested by intelligence agents at his home in Kermanshah on 1 February 2018 and transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre, Ward 209 of the Evin Prison.

He was later released on bail from prison on first April the same year.

ILA: Saeed Eghbali was sentenced to five years in prison for “assembly and collusion against national security” by the Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, and to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda activities against the state”, in September 2019. The verdict was upheld by the Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.


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