Ali Nouri, a civil activist held in Evin Prison was transferred to Aminabad Psychiatric Hospital on Wednesday, instead of being taken to a hospital.
Prison authorities had promised to take him to a regular hospital to receive treatment following his health condition over the last week, but they instead transferred him to Aminabad psychiatric hospital.
Doctors in Aminabad psychiatric hospital refused to admmit him thus the authorities returned him to the prison’s quarantine ward.
He suffers from kidney pain and in recent days has experienced nausea and dizziness.
Sending political prisoners to psychiatric hospitals is a common method of repressing both political prisoners and their family members.
In recent months similar cases have been reported where political activists have been transferred to a mental hospital instead of receiving medical treatment in a hospital.
Ali Nouri was arrested by security forces on December 30, 2017 when he was on military service and transferred to Evin Prison. He was released on bail on February 4, 2018.
In June 2018, the civil activist was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on charges of “conspiracy to commit a crime against internal and external security” and to one year and six months on charges of “propaganda against the state.” He was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison. This sentence was confirmed in December 2019 by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.
After a review by the appeals court, the sentence was reduced to five years in prison on charges of “conspiracy to act against national security” and one year on charges of “propaganda activities against the regime.”
The activist has to serve five years behind bars according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, which allows defendants to serve only the longest sentence in cases involving multiple convictions.
He had previously been arrested on October 8, 2014 for his activities and sentenced to two years in prison. He was released after serving part of his sentence.
One year of his previous imprisonment is also currently in force.
Ali Nouri was arrested on October 31, 2020, and transferred to Evin Prison to start serving his prison term.
