Prison Officials Deny Nasrin Javadi's Leave Despite Her Child's Critical Condition

Nasrin Javadi's lawyer, a jailed labor activist imprisoned since July 2022 for participating in a labor protest, reported that prison officials have denied her leave despite legal provisions allowing for such leave to care for her son, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes. Ramin Safarnia, Javadi's lawyer, told Etemad newspaper that forensic medicine has stated that Javadi is physically unable to endure prison, but this has not been documented in her case. Safarnia added that his client has been in prison for over two years and four months, and her requests for leave and conditional release have been rejected despite her serving more than half of her sentence. He emphasized that while the prison council has agreed to her release and her case is under review by the Tehran prosecutor's office, they have yet to receive a response. 'This delay may negatively impact the health of her only child.' Javadi was arrested in 2019 for participating in a protest advocating for retirees' rights. She was charged with 'assembly and collusion,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'disruption of public order,' and was sentenced to five years for 'assembly and collusion,' one year for 'propaganda against the regime,' one year for 'disruption of public order,' and 74 lashes. Her sentence was upheld by the 36th branch of the appeals court, and she was ultimately transferred to prison in 2019, where all these punishments were enforced. Safarnia noted that the law provides for special considerations such as medical leave, release due to illness, and release after serving one-third of a sentence, and in this situation, Javadi, who is unable to perform normal activities and suffers from illness, is the only person who can care for her sick son. Given that at least one-third of her sentence has passed and her child's critical condition, her lawyer's request to judicial authorities is for her release or at least temporary leave to be with her only child. Previously, the Free Union of Iranian Workers reported that officials at Evin Prison opposed Javadi's leave and that the deputy prosecutor overseeing the prison treated her family harshly and inhumanely. This independent labor organization wrote: 'Following the transfer of Nasrin Javadi's only child to the intensive care unit of Shahid Tajrish Hospital and one of Javadi's family members visiting the Evin Prison execution office to obtain leave for her, Niri, the deputy prosecutor overseeing Evin Prison, refused to listen to her concerns in a harsh and inhumane manner.' Opposition to leave or medical leave for political prisoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran is not new and is used by activists and human rights organizations as a tool for their harassment.