Exclusive | Concern for Fatemeh Sepahri's Health in Prison; Asghar Sepahri: They Have Attempted Her Life

Asghar Sepahri, Fatemeh Sepahri's brother, told Voice of America that she was taken to Vakilabad prison while she was unable to even get out of the hospital bed, and they say to prove she cannot endure punishment. In an interview on Tuesday, October 10, he also discussed the latest situation of Hossein and Mohammad Hossein Sepahri, who were arrested on October 6, stating that the judiciary has not accepted their chosen lawyer based on Article 48, and they still do not know what their charges are. Asghar Sepahri mentioned that 'on Wednesday, October 4, my sister's condition worsened in prison, and she was transferred to the medical facility,' adding that due to 'heart problems,' her situation became 'emergency,' and after being transferred to the hospital on October 6 for angiography, 'the doctor diagnosed that two of her arteries were over 90% blocked,' and she underwent open-heart surgery. According to him, while Fatemeh Sepahri was 'hospitalized in the intensive care unit with severe visitation restrictions,' on Saturday, October 7, she was transferred from the hospital to prison. Asghar Sepahri emphasized that his sister 'could not move at all from the bed, and transferring her to prison is practically like attempting to take her life, as there are no suitable conditions in prison for someone who has undergone open-heart surgery, due to hygiene, medication, nutrition, and psychological conditions.' He stated that 'we did not expect her to be transferred to prison on October 7 under those conditions,' and after family follow-ups, 'a letter from the prison medical facility was issued' stating that she 'cannot endure imprisonment and was told to go to forensic medicine for confirmation, and we are in this process and are very worried' because 'the path they are taking will harm her health.' He added, 'Why should someone who cannot even move from the bed be transferred to prison? Are they worried she will escape? What are they worried about? The only thing that seems to us is that they want to endanger her health further with these pressures.' Asghar Sepahri recalled that 'she had previously undergone surgery on her hand in Ordibehesht,' and 'they did not allow her recovery period outside of prison, and in prison, none of the doctor's recommendations, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and MRI, were carried out until she reached this condition, which is very concerning.' According to him, 'a hospital bed has been placed in prison,' and the family has been unable to speak with Fatemeh Sepahri 'by phone because she cannot even get up to answer the phone. They have learned about her condition through her cellmates, and [the authorities] say we are trying to ensure she has good conditions.' Asghar Sepahri, who resides in the United States, also described the latest situation of his two brothers, Hossein and Mohammad Hossein Sepahri, who have been detained since October 6, stating that 'after several days of not knowing, we learned they are in Vakilabad prison and contacted them. We tried to get them a lawyer,' but when Khosrow Alikordi visited, the judicial authorities 'did not allow him to take their case according to Article 48' and said, 'They can only choose lawyers we deem appropriate.' He emphasized that 'we still do not know what their charges are,' and after several days of complete ignorance, 'now we only know they are in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad.' In recent hours, Fatemeh Sepahri's defense attorney described the latest status of this political prisoner opposing the Islamic Republic in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad and emphasized the deprivation of medical care after surgery, calling for her release. Khosrow Alikordi, announcing his acceptance of Fatemeh Sepahri's case, said on Tuesday, October 10, in an exclusive message to the Persian section of Voice of America that his client 'was transferred to Vakilabad prison after undergoing a difficult, complex, and sensitive open-heart surgery' and 'after spending a short time in the intensive care unit of Qaem Hospital in Mashhad, she was transferred to Vakilabad prison on Saturday.'