Masoud Vazifeh, a political prisoner currently held in Greater Tehran Prison, remains systematically denied access to essential hospital care despite a direct medical transfer order issued by the prison’s supervisory judge. His vital treatment has been entirely halted due to the ongoing refusal of prison authorities to execute the judicial directive.
According to a report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Sunday, July 5, Vazifeh suffers from severe, multifaceted health complications. These include a debilitating injury to his right knee, severe deterioration of his vision, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, and advanced dental disease, all of which require specialized, out-of-prison medical intervention. Despite the supervisory judge signing the off-site medical transfer order nearly 20 days ago, the prison administration has ignored the ruling, blocking his admission to an external hospital.
A source close to the prisoner’s family confirmed to HRANA that Vazifeh has repeatedly issued formal warnings to prison medical staff regarding his rapidly deteriorating physical condition, but no meaningful measures have been taken.
During a recent phone call with his family, the political prisoner detailed the abysmal living conditions inside Greater Tehran Prison, heavily criticizing severe food shortages, exorbitant prices for necessities, and systemic administrative negligence regarding inmate welfare and medical cases. Vazifeh emphasized that these deliberate deprivations have exacerbated his health conditions and brought immense physical suffering to other prisoners.
Masoud Vazifeh was taken into custody last year to serve a severe sentence issued by the state’s security apparatus. In November of that year, the Tehran Provincial Appeals Court upheld his conviction without alteration. The sentence, originally handed down by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, condemned him to four years in prison, 74 lashes, and a cash fine of 50 million tomans.
His latest imprisonment stems directly from his peaceful activism inside the penal system. In December 2024, Vazifeh launched a high-profile sit-in strike to protest the death sentences handed down against defendants in the widely publicized “Ekbatan Town” case. Following his protest, he was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison before being temporarily released on bail after two months.
Vazifeh has a long history of arbitrary arrests and judicial harassment by the security agencies of the Islamic Republic due to his peaceful civil and human rights activism.
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