Family Concerned for Saeed Madani's Health: His Illegal Exile to Damavand Prison Was Decided by the Judiciary

The family of Saeed Madani expressed their concerns for his health in an open letter, stating that the exile of this sociologist and political prisoner to Damavand Prison was a result of a meeting of the Judiciary's Advisory Council attended by its head, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei. According to the Telegram channel 'Emtidad', the family noted: 'Despite having stomach issues and a history of gallbladder surgery related to his previous imprisonment, the unhealthy prison food has exacerbated his digestive problems over the past two weeks, causing him severe pain.' They protested during a meeting with Tehran's Deputy Prosecutors about the lack of legal process for this transfer, the issues arising from the distance of Damavand Prison from the family's residence, and the absence of official notification of this order to either Saeed Madani or his lawyers. The family, who learned of his transfer from Evin Prison to Damavand on April 3, have been unable to meet with Ali Salehi, the Tehran Prosecutor, despite repeated visits to the Attorney General's Office and Tehran's Prosecutor's Office. In response to the family's objections regarding the illegality of the transfer and potential life-threatening risks, judicial officials stated, 'The sentence does not specify the location of imprisonment, and at our discretion, the sentence must be served in Damavand Prison.' They also indicated that Saeed Madani must remain in Damavand until the end of his sentence. The family mentioned that they were told the basis for this political prisoner's exile was a five-page report regarding his conduct in Evin Prison, the contents of which they cannot be informed about. According to this open letter, Saeed Madani has been held in a quarantine cell in Damavand Prison since April 3, and prison officials have not allowed him to access the yard and kitchen, citing 'security' concerns. Previously, Mehdi Mahmoudian, a former political prisoner, attributed Saeed Madani's transfer to Damavand to 'the order of the Ministry of Intelligence and compliance of the prosecutor' and 'harsh revenge' by the Iranian government against this sociologist due to 'the failure of more than 60 percent of the people to participate' in the recent elections. A group of political prisoners condemned the 'unjust exile' of this sociologist and 'non-violent activist' to Damavand Prison in a protest statement, evaluating it as part of the 'continuation of systematic repression of political critics' and a 'desperate' effort by the 'self-proclaimed powerful' rulers to create a 'hollow authority.' Saeed Madani was arrested in May 2022 on charges including 'suspicious foreign contacts' and 'anti-security actions' and was sentenced to nine years in prison for 'forming and managing anti-regime groups' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Following his participation in the 'Dialogue for Saving Iran' conference in May 2023 from Evin Prison, this university professor was again accused of 'conspiracy and collusion against national security.'