Concerns Rise Over the Health of Samaneh Yasin, Imprisoned Singer, After a Month of Hunger Strike

Following convulsions and unconsciousness, Samaneh Yasin, the imprisoned rapper in Qazalhasar, was transferred to the prison infirmary on Saturday evening, November 6, and returned to his cell after a few hours. Samaneh Yasin has been on a hunger strike for over a month in protest against his indefinite detention. According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, since Friday, November 5, 2023, he has been refusing food to protest the prison authorities' prevention of his transfer to medical facilities outside the prison and the repeated cancellation of his court session. His health condition is reported to be unstable. The report states that his health in prison has deteriorated to such an extent that other political prisoners have issued a statement warning judicial authorities about his situation. In this statement, a group of political prisoners from Unit 4 of Hall 21 in Qazalhasar prison noted the worsening of Samaneh Yasin's hematuria and convulsions, declaring that there is no valid reason for his continued detention. While the forensic doctor has confirmed that Samaneh Yasin should be released for treatment due to physical and mental health issues, the courts scheduled for him have been canceled without reason over the past six months, and after 13 months, despite his mental health issues, he remains in indefinite detention in Qazalhasar prison. Samaneh Yasin has informed Qazalhasar prison officials that he will continue his hunger strike if his legal and health situations are not addressed. Previously, on Tuesday, November 1, 2023, a court session for Samaneh Yasin, which was supposed to be held in Branch 28 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Court under Judge Omouzeh, was canceled for unknown reasons. Two other court sessions for him on May 18 and September 18 of this year were also canceled. This political prisoner, despite various illnesses, is being prevented from being transferred to medical facilities outside the prison on the pretext that he has not received a response from the medical commission. Samaneh Yasin, a singer who participated in the widespread protests last year following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, was arrested in October 2022 in Tehran and initially sentenced to death for 'moharebeh' (waging war against God). This sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court, and his case was referred back to court for reconsideration. Recently, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, described the human rights situation in Iran as a 'bitter reality' and urged the international community not to remain silent in the face of widespread human rights violations in Iran. Previously, Michelle Taylor, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, also criticized the 'blatant disregard of the Iranian government for human rights and freedom of expression.' Following the widespread protests after the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini in the custody of the morality police, several protesting artists and singers have been summoned or arrested. Mehdi Yarahee, Samaneh Yasin (Seydi), and Toumaj Salehi are among the arrested singers.