Political Prisoner Attempts Suicide; Masib Reisi Yegane Transferred from Evin to Luqman Hospital

News sources reported that a political prisoner who was injured in the lung during last year's fire at Evin Prison and has been deprived of treatment attempted suicide. A former political prisoner had previously told Voice of America that 'Masib is not in good condition at all in prison.' According to a report by HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, on Thursday, March 8, Masib Reisi Yegane, a political prisoner in Evin, attempted suicide on Wednesday evening by ingesting 'nerve pills,' and on Thursday morning 'his cellmates noticed his lethargy.' According to this report, prison officials transferred this political prisoner to 'Luqman Hospital,' and currently, there is 'no information available about his physical condition.' The legal advisors of the Dadeban group also emphasized that Masib Reisi Yegane was transferred to the hospital with a 'low level of consciousness.' According to this report, Masib Reisi Yegane 'did not manage to complete his treatment during the short time between his release and re-arrest. This eventually led to Masib developing bronchitis due to a lack of medical care in prison,' and currently, he 'has been deprived of specialized medical treatment and transfer to the hospital by order of the case agents.' Previously, a former political prisoner had explained the situation of several prisoners to Voice of America, stating that prison officials had transferred Masib Reisi from Ward 4 to Ward 8 'without reason,' and he 'is not in good condition at all.' Masib Reisi Yegane, a constitutionalist political activist who has a history of arrest and imprisonment, was re-arrested on April 17 by agents of an intelligence agency at his home in Tehran and transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison. This political prisoner was sentenced to 'a total of 23 years and 8 months in prison' by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Iman Afshari, in December. Masib (Mohsen) Reisi Yegane had previously stated in an audio file during his prior imprisonment that prison officials had said they would transfer him to the hospital, and 'when I was on my way to the hospital, they said it was Razi Hospital, neurology department (Aminabad).' This political prisoner added, 'When I asked the staff there about the reason for my presence,' they 'expressed ignorance and said the prosecutor of Branch 1 of District 33 had requested us to admit you,' and continued: 'But not at personal expense; rather, they are willing to pay from the prison organization’s treasury to label and accuse me of being insane.' Pressure on prisoners in various prisons in Iran in recent months, in addition to protests including long hunger strikes by some prisoners, has led to self-harm and suicide attempts by some prisoners. In some cases, suicide attempts by prisoners due to pressure from judicial and prison officials have resulted in their deaths.