Exclusive; Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad, imprisoned labor activist in Evin, is deprived of visitation and medical treatment

Reports received by the Persian section of Voice of America indicate that Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad, a labor activist imprisoned in Evin prison, has been deprived of in-person visitation since the beginning of October. According to these reports, Ms. Ansarinezhad has been unable to see her child for the past two months due to the obstruction by Evin prison officials. Meanwhile, she suffers from severe pain in her back and neck, but Evin prison authorities refuse to send her to the hospital. In this regard, the prison doctor has prescribed a long course of physiotherapy for this imprisoned labor activist, but the head of the women's ward has prevented her treatment under the pretext of 'not having a female caregiver available during the transfer to the clinic.' Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad has been deprived of visitation and medical treatment due to her participation in protests against the issuance and execution of death sentences. She and several other female political prisoners participated in a peaceful sit-in in the women's ward of Evin prison on August 6 of this year, protesting the execution of Reza Rasayi. This sit-in was met with violence from the special forces of Evin prison. At that time, Voice of America reported exclusively on the role of the warden and other officials of Evin prison in the attack on the imprisoned women. Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad, a labor activist, was transferred to Evin prison on November 6, 2023, to serve her four-year prison sentence. This labor activist was sentenced to four years in prison, two years of prohibition from online activities, and a travel ban by the 15th branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court. Intelligence Ministry agents arrested Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad at her home on May 11, 2022. Female prisoners in Evin have protested against 'sexual harassment.' French trade unions have called for the release of imprisoned labor and union activists in Iran. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company condemned the deprivation of political female prisoners in Evin from phone contact and visitation.