Human Rights Campaign in Iran: Judiciary Prevents Medical Care for Reza Shahabi

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has accused the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic of preventing medical care for Reza Shahabi, citing reports of his deteriorating health in prison. Reza Shahabi, a member of the Iranian labor syndicate, is currently imprisoned in Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj. Recently, he reportedly suffered a mild stroke, but this is not the end of the incident, as the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company stated that "new stroke symptoms" have been observed in him. On Thursday, December 30, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran issued a statement based on reports from this syndicate, stating that Mr. Shahabi has been deprived of medical care following his stroke and has been unable to be hospitalized. This statement is accompanied by remarks from Hadi Ghaemi, the director of the Campaign, who said, "The Iranian judiciary does not recognize any limits for punishing Iranian citizens who engage in peaceful activities." He added, "We repeatedly hear that political prisoners suffer from the consequences of irreversible events such as deprivation of access to medical facilities in prison... Moreover, in political detention cases, there is no transparent judicial process, and the Iranian judiciary also refuses to provide them with medical care." The statement from the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran refers to cases of medical neglect that have led to the deaths of such prisoners, including Mohammad Jarrahi, a labor activist who died in Tabriz prison in October 2017 due to worsening cancer. Shahrokh Zamani, another labor activist, also died in Rajai Shahr prison due to a lack of access to appropriate medical facilities following a heart attack. The statement continues with a quote from a source familiar with Reza Shahabi's condition, stating that he "needed access to medical treatment before the stroke" as he "frequently suffered from headaches, had nosebleeds, and found it difficult to move his head, neck, and legs." The report from the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran Bus Company also mentions that Reza Shahabi's family observed during their last visit that "his left eyelid was involuntarily closed and weeping, the left side of his lips was crooked, he dragged his left foot while walking, the left side of his face was swollen and numb, and there was a depression under his eye." Reza Shahabi has been accused of "propaganda against the regime" and "gathering and colluding against national security," for which he has been sentenced to six years in prison. Meanwhile, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has called on the Iranian judiciary to immediately release him and allow him to receive necessary medical and therapeutic care. In this context, Human Rights Watch has also called for the immediate release of Reza Shahabi.