Matlab Ahmadian Returned to Evin Prison 'Before Completing Treatment'

Judicial officials of the Islamic Republic returned Matlab Ahmadian, a political prisoner who had been transferred to the hospital for treatment, back to Evin Prison despite his 'poor physical condition' and while his treatment was incomplete. According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, on Sunday, June 6, it was reported that Matlab Ahmadian was 'deprived of specialized medical care' in Evin Prison. Based on this report, a source close to Ahmadian's family told HRANA that this prisoner, 'who was returned to prison against the wishes of the Tehran prosecutor' while his treatment was incomplete, 'was sent to the prison infirmary yesterday with symptoms of intestinal bleeding.' According to information received by HRANA, the prosecutor's office opposed the continuation of Matlab Ahmadian's treatment in the hospital, while 'the prison infirmary had repeatedly informed the prosecutor's office through multiple letters that it could not provide adequate care for Mr. Ahmadian in prison and that his treatment should take place in medical facilities outside the prison.' The return of Matlab Ahmadian from the hospital to prison occurred contrary to 'the forensic medical confirmation of this prisoner's inability to endure punishment and the necessity for specialized care for his condition in medical facilities outside the prison.' According to this report, Matlab Ahmadian's weight has dropped to 'below 40 kilograms' due to illness, and he suffers from conditions including 'stomach and pancreatic ulcers, testicular infection, and spinal injuries.' He was sent to Tehranpars Hospital on May 7 and 'only underwent intestinal surgery, while he also needed back disc surgery and diaphragm tear surgery.' Mr. Ahmadian was sent to the hospital on December 14 of last year to undergo the first stage of a three-stage testicular surgery, and he was returned to prison one day after the surgery. Matlab Ahmadian has been in detention since October 5, 2010, spending 'about 230 days' in solitary confinement. He has been accused of 'moharebeh (waging war against God) through membership in an opposition group' and was sentenced to '30 years in exile in Minab Prison' for this charge. In two other cases in 2008 and 2011, he was sentenced to fines and one year of imprisonment for 'illegal border crossing,' and in August 2018, he was sentenced to 'eight years of imprisonment and half of the full blood money' in a criminal court in Kurdistan Province for 'participation in murder.' Matlab Ahmadian, 39 years old and from Baneh, has spent part of his imprisonment in the prisons of Minab, Saqez, Sanandaj, and Rajai Shahr, and is currently in Evin Prison. Activists and human rights organizations have repeatedly warned about the deprivation of prisoners' right to medical treatment in the prisons of the Islamic Republic.