Exclusive; Continued Indifference of Evin Prison Officials to the Deteriorating Health of Jafar Ebrahimi

One of Jafar Ebrahimi's acquaintances, an inspector of the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Associations of Iran who is imprisoned in Evin, stated in an interview with Voice of America that the ongoing indifference of Evin prison officials and the judiciary towards his deteriorating health condition is a form of "harassment and torture of him and his family." Previously, the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Associations of Iran had issued a statement regarding Ebrahimi's critical health condition due to severe gastrointestinal issues resulting from lack of specialized medical care. The council emphasized that the medication prescribed by the prison's specialist doctor is "conditional on being taken in isolated conditions, which are not available in prison." One acquaintance of Jafar Ebrahimi told Voice of America that "his intestinal disease is very serious, he must constantly be monitored by a doctor, the dosage of medication must be continuously monitored, and he also needs periodic tests." He pointed out that "medication should not be taken under stress, with improper nutrition, and lack of sleep. However, the prison conditions contradict these necessary conditions." He added: "Due to stress in prison, Jafar Ebrahimi has developed diabetes for several months, which requires him to be under medical supervision." In this regard, the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Associations of Iran stated: "Given this critical situation, forensic medicine has declared the necessity of Jafar Ebrahimi's immediate release from prison, but prison officials have sent his case to the commission and have not responded, showing no concern for the treatment needs of this labor activist." An acquaintance close to Jafar Ebrahimi told Voice of America: "This type of behavior adds additional pressure on him and his family, especially when they are not taking action for his treatment." He described the "responses and passing the buck" regarding Jafar Ebrahimi's medical case as "strange and bizarre" and added: "On one hand, the forensic recommendation is for a one-month leave, but no action has been taken in this regard, and now his family is waiting for the commission's response." This person close to Mr. Ebrahimi emphasized that "Jafar has not succumbed to the charges throughout the judicial process, especially during interrogations, and has defended his beliefs and activities," adding that this type of behavior towards this labor activist is due to his "resistance." He stated, "We are confident that Jafar will not back down from his positions even in this difficult health condition." Jafar Ebrahimi, an inspector of the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Associations of Iran, was arrested in May of last year on security charges and has been deprived of medical leave despite his illness, serving his sentence in Evin prison. In this regard, the Fars Teachers' Association expressed "concern for the physical condition of this activist teacher, friend, and supporter of child laborers," calling for his immediate release for treatment. On the other hand, the Telegram channel "Charter of Freedom, Welfare, Equality" noted the indifference to Jafar Ebrahimi's conditions, stating: "Undoubtedly, any unfortunate incident that occurs in the future for this teachers' activist and other prisoners held in the prisons of the Islamic Republic will be the responsibility and consequence of the entire judicial and security system and, in general, the Islamic Republic." Jafar Ebrahimi, an inspector of the Coordinating Council of Cultural Teachers' Associations of Iran, has been deprived of medical leave since May of last year despite his illness and is serving his sentence in Evin prison. Improving living conditions, proper implementation of the ranking plan, preventing the privatization of schools, and providing suitable and free educational facilities for all are among the demands of protesting teachers in Iran. Following the increase in labor protests, security pressures on civil activists and a wave of summons and arrests of teachers, workers, and civil activists have also intensified. United Nations reporters and human rights organizations consider such arrests to be "arbitrary" and have repeatedly called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to respect the right to peaceful assembly.