The brother of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has expressed deep concerns over her health following a suspected heart attack in Zanjan Prison, northwest Iran. Hamidreza Mohammadi, residing in Norway, reported that the 53-year-old activist was found unconscious in her cell last week.
Despite her history of heart problems and severe blood pressure fluctuations, prison officials have denied her a transfer to a hospital, insisting on keeping her under inadequate medical care at the prison infirmary.
Hamidreza has called for her immediate release for proper medical evaluation, emphasizing the urgency of her condition amidst the ongoing military tensions due to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. He highlighted the psychological toll that these circumstances have imposed on inmates, particularly in the face of potential attacks on the prison itself.
This war has had a terrible effect on prisoners in Iran. If the prison gets hit, the lives of prisoners like my sister are at stake, he warned during an interview.
Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned for her activism against female oppression and human rights violations, has spent more than a decade behind bars. Her legal troubles intensified after openly expressing her dissent against government policies, leading to her recent conviction on additional charges that led to an extended sentence.
In the wake of her medical emergencies, her family has also reported visible signs of her declining health, including significant weight loss and the fallout from her previous violent arrest. The demands from her family and human rights groups intensify, calling for her immediate medical care and also highlighting the concerning broader context of political oppression in Iran.
Given her complex medical history and the current geopolitical instability, there is a growing call internationally for her release and humane treatment.
