Iraj Hatami, a security prisoner, catches Coronavirus infection in Rajai Shahr prison; the lives of political prisoners in Ward 10 are in danger
22-June-2020
Category: Prisoners
Breathing in Confinement: On Tuesday, June 15, 2020, Iraj Hatami, a security prisoner in Rajai Shahr Prison, having symptoms of Coronavirus infection such as; fever and chills, severe headache, muscle pain and shortness of breath, visited a doctor at Prison’s Medical Center. Hatami after being diagnosed with Covid-19 was sent on leave.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Iraj Hatami, along with other prisoners, was sent on leave. Twenty days ago, however, he was returned back to jail.
An informed source told Breathing in Confinement: “Twenty days ago, when the prosecutor’s office refused to extend his furlough, Iraj Hatami went back to prison. Due to the prison officials’ non-compliance with relevant protocols, 9 days after being kept in quarantine, Mr. Hatami was transferred to the ward, where the other political prisoner was being held. He, however, presented to the Prison’s Medical Center on Tuesday, June 15, 2020, with symptoms of Coronavirus infection. After being diagnosed with Covid-19, and at the insistence of the other inmates, the officials agreed to send Mr. Hatami back on leave.”
“Currently, the inhumane policies of the judiciary in ignoring the outbreak of Coronavirus infection in prisons, and going back to the previous routines, have endangered the lives of other political prisoners as well as Iraj Hatami’s inmates in Rajai Shahr Prison’s ward 10. And therefore, necessary measures must be taken to prevent the infection to spread in the ward,” the source continued.
It needs to be mentioned that despite the outbreak of Coronavirus infection in the prison and the chances of involvement for the prisoners, granting leaves to a large number of prisoners or releasing them is still pending.
It is noteworthy that Iraj Hatami, a security prisoner, is a former employee of the Ministry of Defense who was previously arrested on charges of “espionage” and sentenced to ten years in prison. However, six months after serving his sentence he is still awaiting his release. During his detention, Mr. Hatami was held in solitary confinement for two years, but this was not included as his served sentence. And therefore, he has to spend another year and a half in prison.