Evin Prison Chief Prevents Transfer of Reza Shahabi to Hospital Due to Not Wearing Prison Clothes

The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company issued a statement protesting the "lack of medical attention and failure to transfer Reza Shahabi, a imprisoned member of this organization, to the hospital" for pre-surgery tests. According to reports, Hedayat Farzadi, the head of Evin Prison in Tehran, played a role in this action. On Wednesday, October 18, based on Hedayat Farzadi's order to prevent the transfer of political prisoners to the hospital due to their refusal to wear prison clothes, Mr. Shahabi and also Hossein Razag, a media activist, were not allowed to be sent to the hospital. This action took place despite the fact that according to the internal regulations of the prison organization, wearing prison clothes is not mandatory for prisoners of political and press crimes. The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company wrote: As determined by the medical commission, Reza Shahabi, who has suffered spinal injuries and needs surgery, requires certain urological and cardiac tests to be conducted at Rasul Akram Hospital. Previous reports indicated that Reza Shahabi had sustained injuries to his spine and neck due to multiple arrests and pressures during interrogations. He was last arrested in Ordibehesht of last year by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and sentenced to imprisonment on security charges. Parts of this statement read: "Wearing prison clothes is not mandatory. Nevertheless, prison officials deliberately prevent Shahabi's transfer to the hospital." Mr. Shahabi also stated, "If anything happens to me, the judiciary and prison guards, led by Farzadi, the head of Evin Prison, must be held accountable." The Human Rights Defenders Association also issued a statement protesting the discriminatory actions of the head of Evin Prison, holding Hedayat Farzadi responsible for this incident. In a part of the Human Rights Defenders Association's statement, it was written: "The situation of political prisoners is becoming increasingly complicated due to the unlawful actions of individuals like Hedayat Farzadi, the head of the prison. Farzadi's inhumane action occurred while Hossein Razag suffers from several serious illnesses, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, and Reza Shahabi also requires urgent treatment in the hospital due to severe neck injuries."