Transfer of Azad Pekarifar, political prisoner, to hospital; Arrest of Iman Khodari

A knowledgeable source informed Voice of America that Azad Pekarifar, a political prisoner in Evin, was transferred to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran on Tuesday evening following a heart attack, while Arsham Rezai continues to be held in solitary confinement. Simultaneously, news sources reported the re-arrest of Iman Khodari, a former political prisoner. According to reports received by the Persian section of Voice of America on Wednesday, March 6, Azad Pekarifar suffered a heart attack due to months of deprivation of medical treatment and ongoing 'psychological pressure resulting from prolonged imprisonment.' Previous reports on social media published in March 2023 indicated that Azad Pekarifar had also been deprived of medical services and transfer to treatment centers despite his deteriorating health. The deprivation of prisoners' right to medical treatment in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been reported multiple times. Recently, sources close to Kazem Ali Nejad Baranloo, a political prisoner deprived of medical treatment, announced that 'three fingers of his hand' are 'non-functional' and, according to doctors at Taleghani Hospital in Tehran, he needs to 'undergo surgery immediately.' However, his deprivation of medical services continues. The arrest of Iman Khodari was accompanied by 'beating and the use of an electric shock.' Additionally, human rights sources reported that Iman Khodari, a former political prisoner, was arrested on Tuesday, March 14, in Masjed Soleyman, one of the cities in Khuzestan province, and taken to an unknown location. According to the legal group Dadban, Mr. Khodari's arrest was carried out by agents of an intelligence agency at his home, accompanied by 'beating and the use of an electric shock,' and it is unclear what charges have been attributed to this political activist. In recent days, a video of Iman Khodari was published on social media in which he emphasized the necessity of freeing political prisoners and seeking justice, protesting against poverty and corruption, stating: 'Unfortunately, thieves and embezzlers are at the top of the government, while honorable and patriotic people are imprisoned.' A knowledgeable source also informed Voice of America that Arsham Rezai, a political prisoner held in Qezel Hessar prison, continues to be kept in solitary confinement. The continued detention of Arsham Rezai in solitary confinement comes as his mother has repeatedly expressed concern about his health, stating on February 14 that he has a digestive issue and was transferred to solitary confinement while he was supposed to be sent to the hospital for an endoscopy. Also see: Hunger strike of three political prisoners in Qezel Hessar following transfer to solitary confinement. According to a report from the Kurdpa news agency, Kianoush Cheraghi, a political prisoner, went on a hunger strike in protest after being transferred from Ilam prison to Dareh Shahr prison. Kianoush Cheraghi, who had previously been allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence with an electronic ankle bracelet at home due to a decision by judicial authorities, faced a 'cancellation of the ankle bracelet' ruling from the sixth branch of the Ilam appellate court on January 27, and was then arrested at his home in Dehloran by intelligence agents and transferred back to Ilam prison. Now, a month later, the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic have transferred him again from Ilam prison to Dareh Shahr prison in this province. Pressure on political and civil activists in Iran by the intelligence and judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic has intensified in recent months. During this pressure, some users operating under pseudonyms on social media, including Amir Hossein Mousavi, a protesting citizen writing under the username 'James Beidin' on X, were arrested. Also see: Concerns of users over 70 days of 'intense pressure for confession' on Amir Hossein Mousavi. Voice of America previously had a program introducing unknown prisoners in Iran, where they interviewed Zahra Kohnekar, a political prisoner who had been active on social media under the pseudonym 'Sepandazar' before her arrest. Ms. Kohnekar, while mentioning points about her case, revealed the violation of the rights of female political prisoners in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad. Also see: Understanding unknown prisoners; exclusive interview with Zahra Kohnekar. Saghi Laghai, after several years of collaboration with various newspapers, became a reporter and then parliamentary and economic editor of ISNA in 1999. Since 2006, she has continued her professional activities focusing on issues in Iran and human rights, and joined the Persian section of Voice of America in spring 2021. Follow up: Lawyer of Mahdi Yarahee: The sentence of 74 lashes for my client has been executed. Four writers and journalists are being tried in the Revolutionary Court of Abadan. The risk of execution for a child defendant; the charge against Sasan Shadman is 'murder' at the age of 16. Chukameh Chamanmah after being summoned to the prosecutor's office: They won't let me live in peace. A report from a human rights organization on the sharp increase in arrests in Iran.