Hojjat Alizadegan, a 58-year-old political prisoner who has been held in Yazd Central Prison since 2024 on charges of “supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),” is facing a serious health crisis due to the worsening of his pulmonary illness. Prison authorities, in coordination with security agencies, have denied him access to necessary medical treatment.
According to informed sources, Alizadegan suffers from a severe respiratory illness and is in urgent need of medical equipment, including a ventilator, as well as specialized medications. However, prison officials have not only prevented his transfer to specialized medical centers but have also refused to allow him to visit the prison infirmary or be examined by a specialist.
This situation constitutes, under international standards, a form of torture and cruel, inhuman treatment, as depriving a prisoner of proper medical care is a serious violation. Such treatment has placed Hojjat Alizadegan’s life at grave risk and caused deep concern among his family and human rights organizations.
Violation of Crime Classification Principle: Additional Pressure on the Political Prisoner
In addition to the medical neglect, Yazd prison authorities have violated the fundamental principle of separating prisoners based on their offenses by transferring Hojjat Alizadegan to a ward for inmates convicted of common crimes. He has been held among non-political prisoners for over seven months—a measure that contradicts both human rights standards and the internal regulations of Iran’s prison organization—and has significantly increased the psychological and physical pressure on him.
Detention Without Fair Trial
Hojjat Alizadegan was arrested in 2024 by security forces and has been held in Yazd prison ever since without access to a lawyer of his choosing and without undergoing a fair trial. These instances represent clear violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to medical care, fair trial, and protection from inhumane and degrading treatment.
