Sixth Day of Serwanaz Ahmadi's Hunger Strike; Evin Prison Officials Oppose Medical Leave for This Children's Rights Activist

Serwanaz Ahmadi, a children's rights activist and social worker imprisoned in Evin Prison, has entered the sixth day of her hunger strike. Ms. Ahmadi is requesting medical leave due to her illness, but prison officials have thus far opposed this request. According to a report by HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, on Saturday, September 24, a source revealed that Serwanaz Ahmadi's mental and physical condition is dire. The source stated, "When she experiences a panic attack, her body locks up and her legs become numb." Ms. Ahmadi has refrained from taking her prescribed medications for epilepsy and stress since September 8, in protest against the prison authorities' refusal to grant her medical leave. She has informed Evin Prison officials that if she suffers a nervous attack, she will not consent to use the prison's medical services. Additionally, it is noted that her hunger strike began after she was examined about a month ago, and the doctor stated that due to the return of her epilepsy, she should be granted medical leave, but prison officials only provided her with medication and postponed her leave. HRANA reported that since the start of her hunger strike, she has experienced several nervous attacks, but the prison medical staff has only administered a muscle injection. Ms. Ahmadi's relatives have expressed concern over her condition, stating that the recurrence of these attacks is dangerous for her. Previously, hospital doctors had indicated that Serwanaz Ahmadi is suspected of having epilepsy and requires appropriate medical care outside of prison. Before her hunger strike, this children's rights activist had stated in a letter that she receives her necessary medications late, which has exacerbated her condition. On August 7, when Evin prison guards attacked the women's ward, Serwanaz Ahmadi suffered a nervous attack, seizures, and severe muscle contractions. The security forces' attack occurred after female prisoners staged a peaceful protest upon learning of the execution of Reza Rasayi, a political prisoner. Ms. Ahmadi was sent to a neurologist with a week’s delay on August 14. A relative told HRANA that "the trusted physician of the judiciary also described Serwanaz's condition as very critical based on test results and an EEG, requesting emergency leave, but security agents do not allow her to exercise this right." Serwanaz Ahmadi was arrested on May 8 last year, just before International Workers' Day, along with several labor and civil rights activists at the home of Mohammad Habibi, a teachers' rights activist, and transferred to Evin Prison. In the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, she was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the charge of "collusion and conspiracy to disrupt national security" and 1 year for "propaganda against the regime," which was ultimately reduced to 3 years and 6 months in the Tehran Court of Appeals. On November 6, 2022, she was also arrested during nationwide protests against the killing of Mahsa Amini while with her husband, Kamyar Fakour. She was temporarily released on bail on December 7 of that year. Serwanaz Ahmadi holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences in Tehran and is a children's rights activist. Several other political prisoners in the Islamic Republic's prisons are also facing severe illnesses, but officials of the judiciary have prevented them from using medical leave or receiving treatment in prison. This issue has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and labor unions worldwide.