Fatemeh Sepahri After Summons to Prison: Ali Khamenei Must Be Held Accountable for Anything That Happens to Me

Fatemeh Sepahri's brother announced her detention and transfer back to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad through a voice message. In this audio file, Fatemeh Sepahri states that it is 5:10 PM on Thursday, October 19, and says, "Now the agents of the Islamic Republic have come for me and are standing at the door while I am getting dressed to go. I entrust everyone to the God I want to save Iran. I hope to see Iran free soon. Goodbye." Just hours before this audio message, she had stated in a video message that less than 24 hours after returning home, she received a call from the Revolutionary Court informing her that her one-week leave was over and she must report back to prison. She emphasizes that whoever is responsible for her situation, "Ali Khamenei himself and his agents" must be held accountable. Fatemeh Sepahri, a political activist opposed to the Islamic Republic, was hospitalized for open-heart surgery after suffering from a heart condition in Vakilabad Prison. On Thursday, October 19, she stated in a video message that less than 24 hours after returning home, the judge of Branch 21 of the Revolutionary Court called her son early in the morning and said that her leave was over and she had to return to prison. This political prisoner describes her situation: "On the fifth of Mehr, when I was sent to the hospital for open-heart surgery, the day after they were taking me to the operating room, two of my brothers were arrested by the agents of the Islamic Republic. From the moment I regained consciousness until now, I have suffered for my heart surgery and for the arrest of my brothers." She explains the prison conditions: "The prison environment is very polluted and bad, and they have closed the two windows that let in a little air. That week was very hard, and I caught the flu. I am sick. I feel bad." This political prisoner recounts the events of the past days: "I was returned to the hospital on the 22nd, on the 23rd, prison officer Khanlou made a report and left; they put me back. Until yesterday, October 26, I was in the hospital, and Branch 21 told my son to take me to the forensic medicine today. I was taken at 11:30 and arrived home at 2. From yesterday until now, which is less than 24 hours, my son said early this morning that they called him and said I had to report back to prison today." According to Fatemeh Sepahri, "Someone who has had open-heart surgery must take their medications moment by moment" and "must have proper food and environment," while she is currently suffering from "dizziness, nausea, and severe pain." This political prisoner insists: "I must return to prison today by the order of Branch 21. I will not go myself because a week for such a procedure is truly an insult to the Islamic Republic." She states that while her two doctors have requested a three-month suspension of her sentence, "I have not been home for 24 hours, and they say return." Fatemeh Sepahri emphasizes: "I am now preparing my things; if the Islamic Republic wants to take me back to prison, let them come and take me! But know that if anything happens to me, Ali Khamenei himself and his agents must answer for it." This political activist opposed to the Islamic Republic stated in a video message from the hospital on Tuesday that, while she wants to leave the hospital voluntarily, the hospital officials say, "The authorities of the Islamic Republic have ordered us not to let you go." She has insisted that "they want to kill me" and "they intend to take my life." Fatemeh Sepahri was arrested shortly after the killing of Mahsa Amini and the onset of nationwide protests in Iran and has been in prison for over a year. Her two brothers, Hossein and Mohammad Hossein Sepahri, were also arrested simultaneously with Fatemeh's heart problems in prison and in protest against her not being sent to the hospital.