Increased Pressure on Pakhshan Azizi in Evin; This Death-Row Prisoner is Deprived of Medical Access

On October 2, the Iran Human Rights Association announced that Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death, has been deprived of access to a doctor and medical services despite suffering from severe headaches. According to the association, Azizi's requests for medical attention while in Evin Prison in Tehran have been met with opposition from the prison administration. It is reported that Azizi's family, who have taken on the costs of his treatment, have paid for it, yet Evin officials have prevented his transfer to a hospital. Pakhshan Azizi was arrested on August 4, 2023, in Tehran and accused in the winter of that year of 'rebellion through membership in opposition groups' and subsequently sentenced to death in June 2024. He and his defense attorneys have denied any involvement in armed operations. This political prisoner, originally from Mahabad and a graduate in social work from Allameh Tabatabai University, was first arrested in November 2009 during a student protest against political executions and was released on bail of 100 million tomans on March 18, 2010. The Justice for Iran organization, along with 25 other human rights entities, issued a statement on September 11, criticizing the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi and calling on the international community and human rights organizations to take immediate and effective action to prevent the execution. The call from 26 human rights organizations to the international community: prevent the execution of Pakhshan Azizi. Five female political prisoners, despite being summoned for 'clarification of charges', refused to appear at the Evin prosecutor's office. UN experts have warned about the 'sharp increase in executions' in Iran: these punishments are 'illegal'. Two human rights organizations have warned about the 'alarming situation' in Iran: immediate international attention is necessary. Concerns from human rights organizations about more executions ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death.