Severe Stomach Bleeding of Taher Naqvi in Evin; Sina Yousefi: The Islamic Republic Creates 'Opportunities for Prisoners to Die'

A human rights lawyer emphasized the deprivation of Taher Naqvi's right to medical treatment, stating that this imprisoned lawyer in Evin faced 'severe stomach bleeding' on Sunday morning, September 2. Sina Yousefi, a lawyer, announced this news on social media platform X, writing: 'After nearly three weeks of illness and the prison authorities' obstruction of treatment,' Mr. Naqvi suffered severe stomach bleeding, and 'the prison authorities continue to prevent his transfer to the hospital and necessary medical procedures.' Mr. Yousefi also stressed the right to medical treatment for prisoners, considering it 'an obligation' for the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic, and emphasized: 'The right to medical treatment for prisoners is an obligation, and the life of a prisoner is a trust in the hands of prison officials and the judicial system,' but the Islamic Republic's judiciary 'creates opportunities for prisoners to die.' Taher Naqvi, a lawyer residing in Karaj, was arrested on February 6, 2023, in this city and faces charges of 'propaganda against the regime and conspiracy to undermine national security.' Mr. Naqvi, who has represented several families of victims of the nationwide protests of 2022, is also facing charges of 'espionage,' and his case has been sent to Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Abolqasem Salavati. Previously, following a hunger strike by Taher Naqvi in protest against the 'case fabrication' by the security and judicial institutions of the Islamic Republic, he was transferred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran on June 20 due to his deteriorating health and was returned to Evin Prison after a few hours. In recent weeks, the organization 'Front Line Defenders,' active in protecting human rights defenders, issued a statement indicating that Mr. Naqvi's 'legitimate human rights activities' have made him a target of the Islamic Republic, calling for his 'immediate and unconditional release' and the dismissal of charges against him, while emphasizing the need for his immediate transfer to a medical facility and access to necessary medical care. Concerns about Taher Naqvi's stomach bleeding arise as the issue of the danger to prisoners' lives in Iran has returned to the forefront of news following the death of a citizen named Mohammad Mir Mousavi due to torture in custody. Additionally, in recent days, Reza Mohammad Hosseini and Zartosht Ahmadiraghab wrote in a letter from Ghezal Hesar Prison in Alborz Province, which reached Voice of America, stating: 'The dictatorial system' seeks to convey a message of terror and oppression to the protesting people through executions, imprisonment, exile, and repression. Furthermore, three political prisoners held in Ghezal Hesar warned about the danger to the lives of their two fellow inmates, Afshin Bayamani and Saman Yasin, describing their deprivation of medical treatment as 'systematic murder' and 'white killing' of prisoners by the Islamic Republic's judicial system. The normalization of 'deaths in custody' by the police, increasing violence against detainees; reports of a woman's death in a detention center in Khuzestan, an attack on a journalist in Sanandaj; Ejlal Ghavami: The assailant said he would kill all opposition members, preventing the medical leave of Hassan Mardani, temporary release of Mohammad Reza Qaytarani, a prisoner from the nationwide protests, and Mahmoud Sadeghi's suicide attempt, a political prisoner in Shiraz; Afshin Bayamani was transferred to the hospital from Ghezal Hesar with 'signs of a stroke.'