A Cry in the Silence of Psychological Collapse
More than 100 days have passed since the arrest of Shahin Najafgholizadeh, a young man suffering from a severe mental illness (schizophrenia), and growing concerns are being raised about the deterioration of his mental and physical health. Detained during a protest on February 14, 2024, he is currently held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison under illegal and inhumane conditions — without access to medical care, legal representation, or even the possibility of posting bail.
Shahin has been deprived not only of his most basic legal and human rights, but is also being driven toward a psychological breakdown under the indifference of the judiciary. Mehdi Mahmoudian, a human rights activist, has reported on his condition, stating: “Shahin is on the verge of psychological collapse. He writes letters that read more like wills. He has lost hope and becomes more withdrawn each day.”
Confirmed Mental Illness, Ignored by the Judiciary
The prison’s psychiatrist has formally diagnosed Shahin with a severe mental disorder and explicitly stated that keeping him in prison is highly damaging and unjustifiable. Even the Ministry of Intelligence — one of the entities responsible for his arrest — has officially requested his immediate release in a letter to the Security Prosecutor’s Office. Despite this, the Iranian judiciary has remained silent and taken no effective steps to either release or treat him.
Compounded Deprivation: No Treatment, No Lawyer, No Justice
Shahin’s case reflects multiple and blatant violations of fair trial standards. He has been denied the right to a lawyer, and his family has been barred from pursuing legal action or visiting him. A heavy bail of 1.4 billion tomans (approx. $23,000 USD) was set, but even though his family was willing and able to provide it, authorities have refused to accept it without legal justification. This contradicts Iran’s own criminal procedure code, which allows for release on bail before a final verdict is issued.
Forensic Medicine’s Deadly Silence
One of the most troubling aspects of this case is the inaction and silence of the Legal Medicine Organization (forensic authority). This institution, which is legally obligated to provide independent assessments of detainees’ physical and mental health, has yet to issue any statement regarding Shahin’s condition. This silence — despite clear urgency expressed by both the prison psychiatrist and the intelligence ministry — is not only incomprehensible, but from a human rights perspective, can be interpreted as complicity in psychological torture.
