Evin Prison Officials Prevent Sending Sedigheh Vasseghi to Hospital Despite Emergency Doctors' Orders

An Instagram page attributed to Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and imprisoned human rights activist, reported that Evin prison officials prevented the transfer of Sedigheh Vasseghi, a religious scholar and political activist critical of the government, to the hospital despite emergency orders from doctors. Ms. Vasseghi was arrested at her home by government agents on March 17 of last year. This political prisoner has refused to attend the Islamic Revolutionary Court for her trial, stating that 'defending in this sham court' has no meaning. The Instagram page associated with Narges Mohammadi noted that Sedigheh Vasseghi suffered severe anxiety due to the 'brutal raid' on her home, and since then has experienced 'panic attacks, chest pressure and burning, trembling hands and feet, shortness of breath, and severe fluctuations in blood pressure.' According to the report, given Sedigheh Vasseghi's severe visual impairment, prison doctors initially informed the judicial authorities of the impossibility of her enduring imprisonment. The Instagram page further stated that on April 2, following Ms. Vasseghi's panic attacks over consecutive nights, two prison medical doctors issued an urgent and immediate transfer order for her to the hospital, but after 'four hours of wasted time,' it was reported that the prison judicial authority opposed this action, returning her to her cell in an 'abnormal and concerning condition.' Narges Mohammadi protested the ongoing 'horrific and deadly repression' of the government against women in Iran and urged global human rights organizations to 'decisively' prevent the policy of 'either death or mandatory hijab' by the authoritarian religious government of the Islamic Republic. Sedigheh Vasseghi, a member of the first Tehran City Council, removed her hijab following nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police last year. Along with several Iranian political activists, she issued a statement last December criticizing the mandatory hijab as a pretext 'for the humiliation and degradation of Iranian women and the violation of their rights,' demanding 'an end to oppressive policies against women in various personal and social domains.' This critical scholar of Islam also participated in the virtual meeting 'Dialogue for the Rescue of Iran' held in May last year by a group of political activists inside and outside Iran. After Sedigheh Vasseghi's arrest, seventeen religious reformists issued a statement on April 2 criticizing her deprivation of basic medical rights and the concerns raised about her physical condition, holding the Islamic Republic responsible for Ms. Vasseghi's health and demanding her unconditional release. In a message from prison on the occasion of Nowruz, Sedigheh Vasseghi expressed hope that 'this year would be a year of taking significant steps towards a free Iran.' Raheleh Rahimipour, a prisoner with a brain tumor, has been 'deprived of treatment' due to her refusal to accept the mandatory hijab. Sedigheh Vasseghi expressed concern for the condition of a fellow inmate in Evin: Raheleh Rahimipour 'suffering from a brain tumor.' Narges Mohammadi's letter to the UN Human Rights Council: The authoritarian religious regime of the Islamic Republic has committed crimes against humanity. A letter from 11 female political prisoners: Exposing 'gender apartheid' is a pathway to fighting discrimination. Dozens of women's, professional, and civil organizations: The Islamic Republic should be boycotted as a gender apartheid regime. Sedigheh Vasseghi summoned to the prosecutor's office; Maryam Sadat Yahyavi headed to Evin Prison.