Mahdi Mahmoudian Transferred to Hospital After 'Vomiting Blood' from Prison

The Judiciary News Agency of the Islamic Republic reported on Thursday, February 7, that Mahdi Mahmoudian was granted a five-day medical leave for treatment with the approval of a judicial authority. Reports received by Voice of America indicate that this action was taken after he had 'vomited blood.' According to Mizan, Mr. Mahmoudian, a political and media activist, was transferred to a hospital in Tehran on Thursday morning and was discharged after receiving treatment. Reports indicate that the Judiciary's decision to transfer Mahdi Mahmoudian from Evin Prison to a hospital in Tehran and grant him medical leave came after he experienced bleeding and his health condition deteriorated. Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist who has also been granted medical leave, wrote on Wednesday, February 6, that 'refusing to drink water, take medication, and eat food in prison conditions and lack of timely access to medical facilities threatens his health and life.' According to reports, after being discharged from the hospital he was transferred to Day Hospital to undergo tests in the coming days to determine the cause of his bleeding. This political and media activist had previously announced in a phone call from Evin Prison that he had gone on a dry hunger strike and refused medication in protest against 'unjust sentences and repression.' Due to his illnesses, he was required to take medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart valve failure. His dry hunger strike and refusal of medication raised concerns among his mother and several civil and human rights activists. On Tuesday, February 6, Mahdi Mahmoudian wrote on the social media platform 'X': 'Last week they said to introduce yourself in a month; today they called and said come right now!' Meanwhile, Mustafa Nili, a lawyer, told Emtedad that 'with the implementation of the eight-month prison sentence for his client Mahdi Mahmoudian, this political activist was introduced to prison.' According to this lawyer, the case against Mahdi Mahmoudian 'dates back to the time of the letter from Zia Nabavi regarding the presence of bedbugs in prison.' Mr. Mahmoudian's lawyer referred to a denial published by the government news agency Mizan regarding the existence of 'bedbugs' in Evin Prison, stating that his client wrote two posts on X in protest, after which he was charged with 'propaganda against the regime.' The implementation of the eight-month prison sentence for Mahdi Mahmoudian comes while, according to Mustafa Nili, 'Zia Nabavi himself was acquitted of the charge of spreading falsehoods due to writing a letter regarding the presence of bedbugs in Evin Prison.' He also explained: 'In the same prosecutor's office, a decision was issued to discontinue the prosecution of Mahdi Mahmoudian regarding the charge of spreading falsehoods, but an indictment was issued for propaganda against the regime, and the case was referred to Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court.' According to this report, the eight-month prison sentence for Mahdi Mahmoudian was issued by this branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court headed by Iman Afshari, and Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals also 'confirmed this ruling.' According to Mustafa Nili's statements, the sudden implementation of Mahdi Mahmoudian's prison sentence comes while last week, this lawyer and his client had 'discussed and obtained a one-month extension for personal matters,' and 'this request was approved.' Pressure on civil activists, journalists, and lawyers has increased in recent months by intelligence agencies and judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic in Iran.