Covid-19 catastrophe; death threat to 19 women political prisoners in Evin prison
7-April-2020
Category: Prisoners
Nineteen women political prisoners in Evin Prison are in imminent risk of catching coronavirus infection in the lack of sanitary equipment supply in overcrowded conditions of the prison.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, the lives of thousands of prisoners across the country are in danger due to the Islamic Republic’s negligence over the spread of Coronavirus inside the prisons. Women’s political prisoners in Evin Prison have been left defenseless against this viral infection in the absence of preventive measures.
Evin Prison officials have so far refused to provide women, political prisoners, with disinfectants and hygienic products, Breathing in Confinement reported. According to their family members, these women have been even denied access to common cold medicines.
Since the prison officials are providing the consumables to these prisoners on a daily basis and given the high prevalence of COVID-19 in all of the cities, the risk of infection transmission to the prisoners is high and imminent. Women prisoners in Evin are deprived of the least disinfectant facilities, and prison officials have refused to supply then with even the most basic hygiene products such as hand wash liquids, soaps, etc. Therefore, prisoners have to purchase these items from prison stores at multiple prices.
It needs to be mentioned that on April 6, 2020, following the news about death of several prisoners in various prisons because of Coronavirus, a UN human rights official expressed concern about the spread of the Coronavirus in Iranian prisons. Earlier, Amnesty International issued a statement calling for the release of all political prisoners in Iranian prisons. Amnesty International said in a statement: “No one should spend a single day in prison for peacefully exercising their rights, and it is outrageous that so many prisoners of conscience remain unjustly jailed – including human rights defenders and many others detained for taking part in peaceful protests in November 2019 and January this year.”
However, the Islamic Republic’s judiciary has so far continued to hold these political prisoners in a very dangerous condition, refused to release them.
In addition, some of the women political prisoners in Evin, have been deprived of proper nutrition due to long-lasting imprisonment. Therefore, their immune systems are very weak against the virus. So that they must be released immediately and placed in a safe environment.
Below is the latest list of women political prisoners who are still being held in Evin prison:
1- Maryam Akbari Monfared
2- Atena Daemi
3- Zahra Zahtabchi
4- Raheleh Ahmadi
5- Sepideh Farahan (Farahabadi)
6- Monireh Arabshahi
7- Saba Kurd Afshari
8- Yasman Ariani
9- Elham Barmaki
10- Aras Amiri
11- Negin Ghadamian
12- Mozhgan Keshavarz
13- Maryam Haji Ebrahimi
14- Nasrin Sotoudeh
15- Sepideh Kashani
- Niloufar Bayani
17- Rezvaneh Khan Beigi
- Fariba Adelkhah
- Maryam Ibrahimvand