Deteriorating Physical and Mental Health of Saman Yasin; Transferred Daily to Prison Medical Unit

The condition of Saman Yasin, a detained protest rapper in Qazalhessar Prison in Karaj, has reportedly worsened. His Instagram page announced on Saturday, August 6, that he is transferred daily to the medical unit of section 4 of the prison, with fellow inmates stating that his physical and mental health is 'deteriorating.' Saman Yasin's Instagram account wrote that according to verbal statements from the deputy prosecutor and the supervising prosecutor of the prison, the forensic medical commission, as the highest medical authority, has confirmed Saman's illnesses and the necessity of his release for treatment. Therefore, it has been requested that this protest rapper be temporarily released until a verdict is issued and the judicial process is completed, so that his health condition can be addressed under the supervision of his family. In May, Ramin Zafernia Kheshtani, a lawyer, emphasized that based on the 'Razavi Hospital report in Tehran,' Saman Yasin's 'illnesses' are evident, but the judge of branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court stated that this report has not yet been sent to this court. On July 4, Ahmadreza Haeri, a political prisoner in Qazalhessar prison, issued a statement warning about Saman Yasin's deteriorating situation. He wrote in this statement: 'The officials' obsession with keeping Saman and his family uninformed is such that it seems a top-secret stamp has been placed on the forensic medical letter regarding Saman's health condition.' Saman Yasin was arrested in early October 2022 during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. Initially, he was sentenced to death on charges of 'moharebeh' (waging war against God), 'gathering and collusion to commit a crime,' and 'acting against national security,' but this sentence was later overturned by the Supreme Court. During his detention, this protest rapper has been deprived of access to a chosen lawyer, and his representation was previously assigned to a court-appointed lawyer named Hossein Sartipi. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization criticized the performance of this court-appointed lawyer, accusing him of 'whitewashing the Islamic Republic's show trials.' Since the beginning of his detention, Saman Yasin has been transferred several times to different prisons and is currently held in the section for 'drug-related crimes' in Qazalhessar prison. This protest rapper has previously reported torture, including mock executions, forced confessions, being taken to a mental hospital, a broken nose, and damage to his mental and physical health. The United States condemned the torture of Saman Yasin, calling it a violation of human rights and contrary to respect for human dignity. Vafa Ahmadpour's account stated that this imprisoned rapper has developed diabetes 'under psychological pressure.' Concerns are increasing about Saman Yasin's condition; a political prisoner stated that the condition of this protest artist is 'extremely critical.' A draft of the 'Tomaaj Law' was presented in the U.S. Congress aimed at combating human rights violations by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic. Saman Yasin's lawyer stated that the necessary medical documentation for his client's release has not been sent to the court. Ten political prisoners protested against the death sentence of Tomaaj Salehi, warning about the possibility of 'governmental murder' of seven other prisoners. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization accused Saman Yasin's court-appointed lawyer of 'whitewashing the Islamic Republic's show trials.'