Behnam Moosivand, a civil activist detained in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, is still denied access to medical care and treatment.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Behnam Moosivand, a civil activist, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “gathering and conspiracy to act against national security” and to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda activities against the regime”. On June 14th, 2020, he was sent to Evin Prison to serve 5 years in prison. Despite the symptoms of coronavirus in him, he was denied access to medical services and medical care.
According to reports, “Despite the fact that this civil activist has lost his sense of smell and taste and has developed a high fever and chills, prison officials have told him that until the end of the Tasua and Ashura holidays, the prison clinic will not will send him for corona test.”
With the increase of corona symptoms in Evin Prison and the random corona test of 17 prisoners, on Sunday, August 9th, 2020, the test results of 12 prisoners in Ward 8 of Evin Prison were declared positive.
The Campaign for the Defense of Political Prisoners addressed this issue on Sunday, August 9th, 2020, in a report entitled “Twelve inmates of Ward 8 of Evin Prison are suffering from coronavirus.”
Following the spread of corona symptoms among the inmates in ward 8 of Evin Ward Monday, at least 27 political prisoners sat in the courtyard of the prison in protest and demanded an immediate investigation and resolution of the coronation crisis in this ward on August 11th, 2020. Behnam Moosivand was among the protested prisoners
Behnam Moosivand, a political prisoner, was transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison following a verbal argument with the head of Ward 4 of Evin Prison.
The civil activist was transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison as a punishment after protesting against the existence of drug distribution gangs in the prison, the exploitation of low-income prisoners by prisoners of financial crimes, and discrimination between political prisoners and prisoners accused of financial embezzlement.
Following the sit-in protest, Bagheri, the keeper of ward 8, appeared among the prisoners and said, “Your protest and concern are justified, but due to the small space of the rooms, it is practically impossible to follow the health protocols and social distance in this prison.”
“In addition to the small space, the lack of sanitation facilities, including masks, gloves and disinfectants in the complex, has led to the spread of the virus among them,” said political prisoners.
On Monday, May 26th, 2020, based on a summons received by Behnam Moosivand, he was asked to report to the First Branch of the Evin Security Court within 5 days.
Behnam Moosivand was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “conspiracy and conspiracy to act against the security of the country” and to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda activity against the regime.” This sentence was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 5 years of this sentence will be executed in relation to him.
Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced Mr. Moosivand along with 8 other civil activists named Saeed Eghbali, Nader Afshari, Mahmoud Masoumi, Shaghayegh Mohaki, Dariush Abdar, Shima Babaei, Mojgan Lali and Saeed Seifi Jahan on charges of “conspiracy to act against the security of the country” and “propaganda activities against the government” each to 6 years in prison.
Behnam Moosivand was previously detained by security forces along with a number of civil activists during a nationwide operation in different parts of Iran on February 1st, 2018. After being detained, they were transferred to Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence in Evin Prison and interrogated without access to a lawyer. Some of these detainees have been temporarily released on bail. The Evin Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly informed some of these individuals about the charges such as propaganda against the regime and society and collusion to act against national security.
Behnam Moosivand, a political and civil activist, had previously reported to Evin Prison to serve his 12-month sentence on the morning of Monday, June 13th, 2016.
Behnam Moosivand, a civil activist who was arrested by security forces and transferred to Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence located in Evin Prison on February 1st, 2018. He was temporarily released from Evin Prison, on 100 million Tomans bail on Monday, March 19th, 2018.
Earlier, the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners published a comprehensive report on the situation of prisoners in various prisons across the country and provided information on the spread of the Corona virus in various prisons across the country.
The United Nations also has expressed concern over the situation of prisoners in countries where the coronavirus has spread, including Iran.
Amnesty International also issued separate statements calling for the immediate and unconditional release of hundreds of prisoners of conscience and the protection of the health of all prisoners, following the threat of the Corona virus spreading in Iranian prisons.
However, despite the demands of human rights organizations, a large number of political prisoners and prisoners of non-dangerous crimes have not yet been able to access the right to access medical care in Iran’s prisons during the Corona crisis.
Hoghoghebashar.iran 