Death of a Prisoner in Karaj Central Penitentiary

Breathing in Confinement, Saturday, 3 October 2026: Hossein Dalirani, a prisoner held in Karaj Central Penitentiary, died following a cardiac event. According to reports received, delays in accessing appropriate medical services and care contributed to the deterioration of his condition and his death.

According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Hossein Dalirani, 55, a long-term prisoner who had spent years in Rajai Shahr and Karaj prisons, died yesterday after suffering a cardiac event in Karaj Central Penitentiary.

Hossein Dalirani, commonly known as Dalirani, was held in Ward 5 of the prison. He had a history of heart problems and, despite his poor physical condition, reportedly experienced delays in receiving medical attention. According to available information, delays in treatment and in his transfer for, or provision of, urgent medical care were among the factors reported to have contributed to the deterioration of his condition.

Hossein Dalirani was a long-term and well-known prisoner in Rajai Shahr and Karaj prisons and was known among fellow prisoners by the nickname “One-Man Army.”

The death of this prisoner once again highlights the need for prisoners to have prompt and non-discriminatory access to medical treatment and healthcare. The authorities responsible for prisons have a duty to safeguard the lives and health of individuals in custody, and any unjustified delay in providing medical care can place prisoners’ lives at serious risk.