Political Prisoners on Hospital Beds

Despite the closure of many news outlets during the Iranian New Year’s holidays, reports related to journalists and political prisoners, and the condition of prisoners released on bail, have raised concerns among the public. The family of Emadeddin Baghi announced that Baghi’s health conditions had been deteriorating behind bars; doctors have called for the extension of Dr. Ebrahim Yazdi’s temporary release for medical treatment; and a teacher was sentenced to death on the charge of “Moharebeh” (enmity with God).

Doctors Request Treatment for Ebrahim Yazdi

Defense attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah has said that doctors had asked Tehran prosecutor’s office to extend Dr. Ebrahim Yazdi’s temporary release for medical treatment.  

Ebrahim Yazdi’s lawyer told Rooz, “Dr. Yazdi’s temporary release ended on March 24, but in light of his physical condition, his doctors have requested an extension of his temporary release, writing in their expert opinion that un-insulated and stressful environments threaten his livelihood.”  This lawyer hoped that the request would be granted.

Dr. Ebrahim Yazdi, the 78-year-old secretary-general of the liberal Nehzat Azadi Iran party (Freedom Movement of Iran) was arrested at midnight on January 17, 2009.  Shortly after, Dr. Yazdi was transferred to the Atieh Hospital for a heart condition and then to an unknown location, where he received an open-heart surgery to open four clogged arteries.  Hours after the surgery, Tehran’s prosecutor announced a ten-day temporary release for him in a press conference without referring to the fact that he was under supervision at the ICU unit.  

Teacher Sentenced to Death

Abdolreza Ghanbari, who taught at a school in Pakdasht and at a university, was sentenced by the revolutionary court to death.  According to reports, Ghanbari was sentenced to death by Judge Salavati at branch 15 of the revolutionary court on charges of “Moharebeh through cooperation with armed groups proven by the possession of suspicious emails and contacts with a foreign-based television network.”  

This teacher, who has a 14-year teaching record in schools and at a university, was arrested on January 24, 2009.

Concern for Emadeddin Baghi

Concerns about the physical health of prominent Iranian journalist Emadeddin Baghi have also multiplied.  The journalist’s wife announced that he had spent the Iranian New Year’s eve at a hospital in Tehran.

Fatemeh Kamali, Emadeddin Baghi’s wife, who was able to visit him on March 29, said that a respiratory attack, which Baghi first suffered during his last arrest at Evin prison’s solitary confinement ward 209, reoccurred, leaving Baghi unconscious.  Baghi was transferred to Tehran’s Bani-Hashem hospital in the final days of 1388 (ending on March 20, 2010) and after some time was taken back to his cell at Ward 240 of the Evin Prison.