Prisoners Denied Right to Medical Treatment; Matlab Ahmadian Not Sent to Hospital Despite 'Severe Chest Pain and Lung Infection'

A human rights source states that Matlab Ahmadian, a political prisoner suffering from chronic and spinal diseases due to over two decades of imprisonment and exile, has been denied specialized medical care despite his poor condition in Evin Prison. According to the HRANA news agency, this political prisoner was transferred to the prison infirmary on Wednesday, August 8, with symptoms such as severe chest pain, palpitations, and a lung infection, and despite the infirmary doctor emphasizing the need for specialized treatment, he has been denied transfer to a hospital and medical care by order of the relevant authorities. Matlab Ahmadian, who had previously undergone surgery on his intestines at Tehranpars Hospital, has developed an infection due to inadequate medical care in prison. While his weight has dropped to 'below 40 kilograms' due to illness, he was transferred to the hospital in June for treatment, but despite his 'poor physical condition' and incomplete treatment, he was returned to Evin Prison due to the prosecutor's opposition. The return of this political prisoner from the hospital to prison occurred contrary to 'forensic medical confirmation of this prisoner's inability to endure punishment and the necessity for specialized medical attention in treatment centers outside the prison.' Nevertheless, Ali Salehi, the then Tehran prosecutor, opposed halting Ahmadian's sentence. Meanwhile, the family of this prisoner provided a 'five billion tomans bail to halt his sentence, and five lawyers took responsibility for his defense.' According to this report, Matlab Ahmadian suffers from diseases including 'stomach and pancreatic ulcers, testicular infection, and spinal injuries.' This political prisoner was transferred to the hospital on December 14 of last year for the first stage of a three-stage testicular surgery. He was returned to prison the day after the surgery. Matlab Ahmadian has been in detention since October 5, 2010, spending 'about 230 days' in solitary confinement. Mr. Ahmadian has been accused of 'moharebeh (waging war against God) through membership in an opposition group' and 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' by the criminal court of Kurdistan for 'participation in murder.' Matlab Ahmadian, 39 years old and from Baneh, has spent part of his imprisonment in the prisons of Minab, Saqqez, 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.