Suspected of cancer, Iranian political prisoner is denied medical treatment

The authorities of the Central Prison of Tabriz prevented medical treatment of political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

She has developed cancerous mass in her breast while being interrogated under vicious torture. Presently, she suffers from severe pain and is suspected of breast cancer.

An informed source says about Massoumeh Senobari: “The situation in the clinic of the Prison of Tabriz is not good and they provide any care for the inmates. There is only one nurse and a doctor visits this prison only once a week but does not do anything for the inmates.”

A medical team that visited this prison some time ago, told political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari that she had developed a mass in her breast because of the tortures she underwent, and that she was suspected of having cancer. They told her that she needed urgent sonography and treatment, but prison authorities have refrained from providing any care to her.

She was first told that she would not be taken for treatment for the time being. After several times that she followed up on her case, she was told that she should pay the expenses. When her family collected the needed amount of money, again, the Tabriz Prison authorities prevented her from receiving treatment. They said she must be re-examined. 

Ms. Senobari’s family are not permitted to send her medicine while she already suffers from serious pain in the chest which does not allow her to sleep at nights. The medications given to her in prison, are tablets like methadone, sleeping pills or sedatives which are harmful for them.

Iran Human Rights Monitor calls for urgent action by international human rights organizations to save the life of political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari who is presently detained in the Central Prison of Tabriz.

Born in 1988, Massoumeh Senobari has one child. She is sentenced to 8 years in prison for her activities in favor of the opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), propaganda against the state, and insulting the mullahs’ supreme leader.

She was arrested on February 24, 2019. She suffered a broken leg, fracture of the sole of her foot, blurry vision, etc. due to savage tortures during interrogation.