According to received reports, Azar Korvandi, a political prisoner held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, is in critical health condition and has been denied access to necessary medical care. She has been sentenced to five years in prison due to her support for the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and is currently suffering from multiple health complications, including severe neck pain and shoulder dysfunction.
Specialist medical examinations indicate that Ms. Korvandi is suffering from a serious cervical disc issue and tendon thinning in her shoulder, which causes intense pain in her neck, shoulder, and arm. She is reportedly unable to move her neck and requires urgent surgery. However, Evin Prison authorities have so far refused to transfer her to a hospital outside the prison, despite doctors’ recommendations.
Born in 1962, Azar Korvandi is married and has two children. She was previously imprisoned during the 1980s due to her political activities in support of the MEK. At that time, she was pregnant and gave birth to her child under extremely harsh conditions while under interrogation in prison.
She was re-arrested in the summer of 2019 and temporarily released on bail. Ultimately, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced her to five years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “collusion to act against national security through cooperation with the MEK.” She has been imprisoned since July, 2023, to serve her sentence.
Ms. Korvandi also suffers from heart disease and is a cancer survivor. Her current medical neglect highlights the ongoing human rights violations against political prisoners in Iran, particularly those associated with the MEK, who face intensified pressure and deprivation due to their political beliefs.
