The critical condition of ailing prisoners, including Fatemeh Ziaei and Shiva Esmaeili, prompts an urgent call for action on the plight of female political prisoners in Evin and the release of the seriously ill.
The Iranian Resistance warns of the dire living conditions of female political prisoners in Evin and calls for urgent action by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, and other human rights organizations to investigate their situation and secure the release of prisoners who are ill.
Last July, following a bombing at Evin, female prisoners were transferred to Qarchak prison in Varamin, which lacks even minimum living standards. A few weeks ago, these prisoners were returned to Evin prison but were placed in a basement ward, approximately 40 steps below ground level. This location is extremely damp, dirty, and infested with rodents, insects, and other vermin. These conditions constitute a clear example of torture and are especially agonizing for prisoners who are ill.
Among these prisoners is Fatemeh Ziaei, 68, a political prisoner first incarcerated in the 1980s who has been arrested seven times and has spent a total of 13 years in prison. She suffers from advanced Multiple Sclerosis (MS), tuberculosis, and an internal infection. The pressures of imprisonment and lack of access to medical facilities have caused her irreparable harm and pose a mortal danger to her life. On January 19, 2025, after a medical examiner confirmed she could not tolerate prison conditions due to the severity of her illness, she was released after paying 300 million tomans for the remainder of her sentence. However, she was arrested again in August 2025 and, in October 2025, was brought before Branch 15 of Tehran’s so-called Islamic Revolution Court, presided over by the henchman Salavati, to face new charges.
Shiva Esmaeili, another political prisoner serving a 10-year sentence in Evin, suffers from chronic, severe lower back pain. As her physical condition continues to deteriorate, prison authorities are denying her access to specialized medical treatment.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
6 December 2025