Hunger Strike by Vida Rabani and Matoureh Ghonei Due to Lack of Medical Care for Narges Mohammadi

Vida Rabani and Matoureh Ghonei, two political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin Prison, have been on hunger strike since November 19 in protest against the lack of access to medical services for their fellow inmates, Narges Mohammadi and Varisheh Moradi. In a letter from Evin Prison, a copy of which was obtained by Radio Farda, Ms. Rabani detailed Ms. Mohammadi's condition, stating that prison officials are ignoring her 'severe surgical wounds', 'bed sores', 'the contamination of the room and restroom', 'the inadequacy of medical facilities', and other issues. This imprisoned journalist further wrote that their hunger strike is 'nothing but an act of desperation against oppression'. Rabani stated that she and Ghonei understand that the hunger strike 'endangers their health', but they see no other option as 'Narges Mohammadi and our other fellow inmates are suffering before our eyes and our hands are tied'. Mustafa Nili, a lawyer, previously reported that Narges Mohammadi underwent surgery in mid-November to remove a 'bone tumor from the upper part of her leg and to perform a bone graft'. Nili wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that Ms. Mohammadi was returned to prison, but due to the nature of the surgery and the location of the lesion, the doctor's opinion was that she requires 'three months of care in optimal conditions'. Rabani also noted in her letter that Varisheh Moradi, another fellow inmate, has developed 'twelve wounds' after a prolonged hunger strike in protest against her death sentence. This imprisoned journalist added that several times in the past, female prisoners in Evin have 'reached this level of desperation against the oppression they faced, revolted, and stripped themselves naked', and 'many have resorted to suicide and self-harm for similar reasons'. Narges Mohammadi was returned to prison after her tumor was removed. Matoureh Ghonei, a student activist and political prisoner, wrote three days ago in a letter from Evin Prison to the Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education that in the women's ward of Evin, 'four prisoners are over 70 years old, and more than 18 are over 60 years old, suffering from specific diseases such as advanced MS, cancer, brain tumors, as well as respiratory apnea and chronic lung and heart diseases'. This political prisoner, who is studying dentistry, continued, 'I witness daily how even ordinary and daily life is so difficult and exhausting for them.' In this context, a group of writers, artists, and civil activists wrote a letter to Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, highlighting the dire physical condition of Narges Mohammadi, an honorary citizen of France, urging him to take 'serious, immediate, and effective' action for the release of this political prisoner. Additionally, May Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, also called on various individuals on December 6, coinciding with December 5 (November 25), the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to provide their information for her upcoming report 'on gender-related killings and other forms of violence against women and girls'.