UN Experts Condemn Iran's Denial of Healthcare to Human Rights Defender and Other Detainees

“Our deep concerns about the physical and mental integrity of Narges Mohammadi have been communicated to the Iranian Government,” the experts stated.

UN human rights experts have expressed grave concern over Iran's continued denial of timely and appropriate healthcare to human rights defender Narges Mohammadi and other detainees, despite numerous appeals.

“Our deep concerns about the physical and mental integrity of Narges Mohammadi have been communicated to the Iranian Government,” the experts stated. “Once again, we urge Iranian authorities to release her immediately and ensure she receives full medical care without delay, along with other detainees.”

Over the past eight months, Mohammadi has reportedly suffered from severe back and knee pain, including a herniated spinal disc, according to medical specialists and MRI and CT scan results. On 6 August 2024, she was allegedly subjected to physical violence in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, causing her to lose consciousness and sustain injuries to her ribcage and other parts of her body. Despite requesting access to her lawyer to file a complaint and a forensic examination of her injuries, these requests were reportedly denied by Evin Prison authorities.

“The denial of medical care seems to be used as a means to punish and silence Mohammadi inside prison. These reports raise serious concerns about her right to health and physical well-being,” the experts emphasized.

They reminded the Iranian government that, as a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), it is responsible for ensuring the healthcare of prisoners and preventing any form of ill-treatment. “Prisoners have the right to equivalent healthcare available in the community and must be given prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases,” the experts stated.

The experts highlighted a troubling pattern of ill-treatment of Iranian detainees, including the lack of access to adequate medical treatment. "Such deprivations may amount to torture and inhuman treatment, which is an absolute right not liable to exceptions and derogations, and a jus cogens norm of international human rights law,” they said.

They also expressed concern for other detainees, including Fatemeh Sepehri, Mahmoud Mehrabi, Davood Razavi, Hasan Saeedi, and Reza Shahabi Zakaria, who have similarly been denied appropriate healthcare despite urgent medical needs.

“We reiterate our calls for the immediate release of human rights defenders and all other individuals in Iranian detention facilities who are currently being held arbitrarily,” the experts concluded.