Amnesty International calls for immediate release of Narges Mohammadi after her health deteriorated

 Amnesty International, in a statement, called for the immediate and unconditional release of the political prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, amid the deterioration of her health following a heart attack inside Zanjan prison in Iran a few days ago.

The organization reported that Mohammadi confirmed the extremely poor conditions of the prisoners in the jail, noting that they receive daily reports of attacks threatening their fragile health, which increases the state of anxiety and tension inside the prison.

In its statement, the organization urged the Iranian authorities to release Mohammadi, who is suffering from a serious health condition, and to provide her with specialized medical care in a hospital outside the prison urgently until her release. It confirmed that the seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence against her was based on charges related to national security due to her human rights activities, raising the total sentences against her in recent years to 18 years.

The statement indicated that an informed source reported to the organization that the prison administration found Narjes unconscious, with serious health symptoms, while the prison doctor suspected she had suffered a heart attack, despite the continued refusal to transfer her to the hospital. Her lawyers reported after visiting her that she had lost a lot of weight and was suffering from chest pain, severe headaches, nausea, vision disturbances, and blood pressure issues, in addition to frequent fainting spells.

Amnesty International has also documented Narges Mohammadi's torture and ill-treatment since the beginning of her detention, including beatings that caused visible injuries.

The organization pointed out that prisoners in Zanjan Prison also face additional risks due to explosions occurring near the facility, which increases their fears for their lives.

In conclusion, the organization called on the Iranian authorities to take urgent measures to protect the prisoners, move them away from areas near military targets, release all arbitrarily detained individuals, and also release other prisoners on humanitarian grounds.

ANHA