Sadiqeh Voseqi's Husband: She Has Lost Her Sight

Mohammad Ebrahimzadeh, the husband of Sadiqeh Voseqi, a political prisoner and opponent of compulsory hijab, announced that she has completely lost her eyesight and has also developed a heart condition due to prison pressure. In an interview with the 'Rooidad 24' website published on Thursday, May 6, he mentioned that his wife had vision problems before her arrest due to a genetic disease, but she has 'recently completely lost her sight.' Ebrahimzadeh expressed concern for his wife's health, stating that 'Ms. Voseqi had a field of vision before her arrest, and this central vision has been lost during this time.' He further explained that in prison, it became apparent that she could not walk and would fall, saying, 'I am just a burden to my fellow inmates. I cannot bring my own food or wash my dishes. I even need someone to help me to the restroom.' Ebrahimzadeh added that prison officials agreed to transfer Sadiqeh Voseqi to the hospital after observing her condition, and 'the tests lasted about 3 hours, and I was present.' He noted that the results from Farabi Hospital indicated that his wife 'cannot endure imprisonment,' and these results should have been sent from the prison medical staff to forensic medicine, but they have not yet been sent. Ebrahimzadeh mentioned that a visual field test was pending at Farabi Hospital, but the doctor stated, 'There is no need to measure the visual field because she has no vision at all.' He emphasized that Ms. Voseqi had a field of vision before her arrest, which has been lost over time, although he noted that the prison did not contribute to the loss of her vision. He also discussed his wife's heart condition, stating that 'she had no heart problems before imprisonment. I hope this is not a disease and is only due to prison pressure.' Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Ms. Voseqi's lawyer, also referred to the forensic medicine's positive opinion regarding her 'inability to endure imprisonment' and expressed hope that by next week, the prosecutor's office would agree to her 'request for conditional release.' Previously, Sadiqeh Voseqi's Instagram account reported her transfer from Evin Prison to Farabi Hospital, noting that she was 'without a headscarf' at the time of transfer. According to a text published on this account, Ms. Voseqi was transferred to Farabi Hospital on April 27 with three guards (one woman and two men) for an eye examination. Reports indicate that in the early days of April, Evin prison officials 'did not allow Sadiqeh Voseqi to leave the women's ward for a family visit due to her non-compliance with compulsory hijab,' and this political prisoner had staged a sit-in protest in the prison office. Sadiqeh Voseqi has called on Islamic scholars, thinkers, and the public to 'condemn' the actions of the Islamic Republic and to work for the 'liberation' of women in Iran and the Islamic world from 'harsh and painful domination' and to pave the way for 'equality and democracy.' In a note published on her Instagram page on April 15, she called for the recognition of 'freedom, human rights, and individual self-determination' for women, emphasizing the equality of women and men. She described the 'red line of the ruling religious tyranny' in Iran against women as the source of 'insulting behavior' from government agents and the 'beating' and 'forced transfer' of women to detention centers over the decades. This political prisoner mentioned 'not covering her hair' as one of the charges against her and stated that for this reason, she has endured 'prison punishment' and has been deprived of 'the basic right of a prisoner, which is to meet with family.' Sadiqeh Voseqi's arrest on March 17 at her home in Tehran has faced criticism. Over 300 political and civil activists have called for her immediate release.