Amnesty: Death of Iran trade unionist must trigger action to tackle appalling prison conditions

NCRI - The human rights group Amnesty International says it has documented a pattern in Iran of the regime denying prisoners access to medical care even though they are being housed in "deplorable prison conditions."

"Shahrokh Zamani was serving an 11-year prison sentence for his peaceful trade union activities in Raja’i Shahr Prison, Karaj, north-west of Tehran, when he died. An investigation into his death must include an assessment of the extent to which poor prison conditions and a lack of adequate access to medical care contributed to his death," the human rights group said in a statement on Friday (September 25).

"More broadly, Amnesty International calls on the Iranian authorities to urgently address the inhumane detention conditions prevalent in many of Iran’s prisons, which contribute to medical conditions developing in prisoners or exacerbate pre-existing ones."

"The authorities must also ensure that all those in detention have access to adequate medical treatment in line with international human rights standards and ensure that those needing specialized treatment are granted medical leave."

Iranian political prisoner Shahrokh Zamani was found dead in his prison cell on September 13 with his mouth full of blood and a bruised head. A 51-year-old labor activist and painter, Mr. Zamani was arrested on June 8, 2011 in Tabriz and spent 32 days on hunger strike in protest at his arrest.

In August 2011, he was sentenced to imprisonment on charges that included “acting against national security by establishing or being a member of groups opposed to the system” and “spreading propaganda against the system” for his peaceful trade union activities. He was released on bail in October 2011 but began serving his sentence in Tabriz on January 14, 2012. He was transferred to Gohardasht (Raja’i Shahr) Prison in Karaj on October 13, 2012.

"Since he began serving his sentence, Shahrokh Zamani had not been granted prison leave. In March 2014, Shahrokh Zamani undertook a second hunger strike in solidarity with other prisoners and to protest against the poor conditions at Raja’i Shahr Prison," Amnesty said.

"The political prisoner ward of Raja’i Shahr Prison is the only section of the prison without telephone privileges. Some of the prisoners there use contraband mobiles to contact their families, particularly those whose families live too far away to visit regularly. Amnesty International has received reports that prison authorities installed signal-jamming devices to prevent the use of mobiles."

"Many prisoners, including Shahrokh Zamani, reported that they suffered from nausea and headaches when the jamming devices were activated."

"Shahrokh Zamani’s death in prison shines a light on the appalling detention conditions and lack of medical care given to prisoners in a criminal justice system that also imprisons individuals for the peaceful exercise of their rights."

"Many prisons, including Raja’i Shahr Prison, are severely overcrowded and have inadequate food and poor sanitation, all of which may cumulatively exacerbate prisoners’ preexisting medical problems or contribute to new health problems."

"Furthermore, Amnesty International’s research shows that detainees are sometimes denied access to adequate medical care, including access to specialized care."

"Amnesty International has also received numerous reports about severe overcrowding, extreme temperatures, unsanitary facilities and inedible food in other provincial prisons, including Kermanshah’s Dizel Abad Prison, Shiraz’s Adel Abad Prison and Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison."

"Amnesty International has documented a number of cases where sick prisoners have been denied adequate medical care, including medication, and have been refused medical leave, to which they are entitled under Iranian prison regulations," the rights group added.