Concerns About Saeed Madani's Health and Safety in Damavand Prison

Saeed Madani's lawyer expressed concerns about the safety and health of this political prisoner, citing the presence of 'dangerous criminals' in Damavand Prison. On Saturday, April 6, in an interview with the newspaper 'Shargh', Mohammad Behzadi Rad described the detention of political prisoners in public prisons as 'very dangerous' and stated that Saeed Madani is currently quarantined in a room 'similar to a solitary confinement' in Damavand Prison. According to this lawyer, the officials at Damavand Prison emphasized that 'we do not have political prisoners here' and deemed Saeed Madani's presence among ordinary prisoners as 'dangerous'. Mohammad Behzadi Rad also mentioned that the reason for his client's transfer from Evin Prison to Damavand Prison was the 'insistence of the case's agents' and the prosecutor's order. Mehdi Mahmoudian, a former political prisoner, attributed Saeed Madani's transfer to Damavand Prison to the 'order of the Ministry of Intelligence and compliance of the prosecutor' and the 'harsh revenge' of the Iranian government against this sociologist due to the 'lack of participation of over 60% of the people' in the last elections. Saeed Madani, a social researcher sentenced to 9 years in prison, was recently 'exiled' from Evin Prison to Damavand Prison 'against prison regulations'. A group of political prisoners condemned the 'unjustified exile' of this social researcher and 'non-violent activist' to Damavand Prison in a protest statement, evaluating it as part of the 'continuation of systematic repression of political critics' and a 'desperate' effort by the 'self-proclaimed powerful' rulers to create a 'hollow authority'. Saeed Madani was arrested in May 2022 on charges including 'suspicious foreign contacts' and 'anti-security actions' and was sentenced to 9 years in prison for 'forming and managing anti-regime groups' and 'propaganda against the regime'. Following his participation in the 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' conference in May 2023 from Evin Prison, this university professor was again accused of 'conspiracy and collusion against national security'. The criticism from 21 political prisoners regarding Saeed Madani's transfer to Damavand Prison: the rulers are seeking to create a hollow authority. The transfer of Saeed Madani from Evin Prison to Damavand; the lawyer stated: 'against prison regulations'. Calls for a boycott of the elections on March 2 in Iran continue. Sentences for two political activists participating in the virtual 'Dialogue for the Salvation of Iran' meeting have been confirmed.