Reports of the Death of Sara Deldar, Former Political Prisoner, Due to Infections from Pellet Injuries

According to social media reports and the "Hirakani Human Rights Media," Sara Deldar, a former political prisoner from Rasht and an activist from Gilan, lost her life after suffering from infections caused by pellet injuries. Ms. Deldar was shot with pellet guns by the forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the nationwide protests in 2022 while helping the injured. After her arrest, she was sentenced to one year, three months, and six days in prison at Lakan Prison in Rasht and was released on parole after serving just over six months. In her last Instagram post on July 22 of this year, she mentioned suffering from infections in her body after her release from prison and hospitalization. She referred to severe physical weakness, severe anemia, and enlargement of the spleen, kidneys, and ovaries as some of her health issues. Ms. Deldar also stated that other released prisoners from Lakan Prison in Rasht are struggling with similar illnesses. Voice of America cannot independently verify the accuracy of this news. The report of Sara Deldar's death due to injuries from government violence comes at a time when five political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin Prison in Tehran—Narges Mohammadi, Mahbubeh Rezaei, Pariush Moslemi, Varisheh Moradi, and Pakhshan Azizi—were previously subjected to "beatings" by prison officials following protests against the execution of Reza Rasayi, a young protester and follower of Yarsan. The U.S. State Department described the attack on Narges Mohammadi and other female prisoners in Evin due to their peaceful protest against the execution of Reza Rasayi as "deeply troubling" and condemned it. Prince Reza Pahlavi commented after the execution of Reza Rasayi: "Khamenei is a Zahhak taking revenge on the humiliation from the people of Iran."