Judicial Authorities Insist on Returning Political Prisoner to Jail Despite Illness

The family of a labor activist and political prisoner reports that security and judicial officials in the city of Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan province, insist on returning him to prison despite his deteriorating health. Eisa Ebrahimzadeh attempted suicide on Friday evening, July 29, due to opposition to the continuation of his five-day leave and was discharged from the hospital three days later. However, not only was his leave extension denied, but his family and close relatives, including his daughter and brother, have also been 'threatened with arrest.' According to the brother of this political prisoner, judicial and security officials are referring the Ebrahimzadeh family to each other. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh, a former political prisoner and Eisa's brother, stated in an interview with Radio Farda on Sunday, July 31, that since 'Ariz,' his brother's child, 'is suffering from a severe heart disease and requires continuous medical care,' Eisa Ebrahimzadeh had requested the judicial authorities to 'extend his five-day leave.' Mr. Ebrahimzadeh told Radio Farda that Eisa had been imprisoned in Naqdeh since February 4 until last week when his five-day leave was approved. 'After four days,' security agents contacted him to return to prison and opposed the continuation of this leave. This former political prisoner refers to his experience with his child Nima, who died of cancer, stating that he was also in prison during his child's illness and was not allowed to follow up on his child's condition. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh says that despite this bitter experience, after Eisa became hopeless about the continuation of his leave, he returned home and attempted suicide, after which he was transferred to the hospital. Eisa Ebrahimzadeh was arrested by security forces on November 21, 2022, while returning to his village from Oshnavieh during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, while he was accompanied by his young child, 'Asu.' Mr. Ebrahimzadeh was initially taken to the Oshnavieh detention center and then transferred to Urmia prison, where he spent 55 days in solitary confinement. He was later temporarily released on a bail of 500 million tomans. This labor activist was tried in March 2023 by 'Judge Rezaei' and sentenced to five years in prison based on charges including 'membership in opposition groups,' of which 'three years of this sentence are executable.' Behnam Ebrahimzadeh told Radio Farda that his brother was subsequently summoned by phone for the execution of the sentence, and due to 'Ariz's illness' and 'some agricultural-related matters,' he requested an official notice for the execution of the sentence from security and judicial agents and refused to go to prison. Subsequently, 'eight security agents' entered his home in the village of 'Deh Shams' in Oshnavieh at dawn on February 4, 2023, and arrested him in front of his wife and children. Eisa Ebrahimzadeh was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, July 31, after 'stomach washing' and care. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh states that despite his brother's unsuitable physical and mental condition, judicial authorities have insisted that he must return to prison. As a result, the Ebrahimzadeh family, some relatives, and citizens gathered in front of the Ministry of Intelligence office in Oshnavieh on Sunday, July 31. Behnam Ebrahimzadeh told Radio Farda that security officials in the city have threatened to arrest his family and other close relatives, including his brother Mousa Ebrahimzadeh and Eisa's eldest daughter, Arzu. Mr. Ebrahimzadeh also mentions that due to the publication of images and videos of his brother's transfer to the hospital and his hospitalization, 'security officials have become very angry.' The Ebrahimzadeh family has also 'formally requested the extension of leave from the Urmia prosecutor, the case investigator, and the prison prosecutor.' However, judicial authorities have stated that this permission must be issued by the Ministry of Intelligence and 'everything is in their hands.' After following up with the Ministry of Intelligence, they told the Ebrahimzadeh family that this issue must be handled by judicial authorities, a process that Behnam Ebrahimzadeh describes as 'passing the buck.' Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted on enforcing prison sentences for political and ideological prisoners despite their deteriorating health. So far, several political prisoners and detained protesters, including poet Bakhtash Abtin, as well as some ordinary crime prisoners in detention centers and prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have lost their lives due to reasons such as 'lack of medical care,' 'prevention of transfer to the hospital,' and 'denial of medical leave.'