Taher Naghavi transferred to a hospital and back to prison following a hunger strike
On 19 June 2024, human rights defender Taher Naghavi was transferred to Taleghani hospital and back to Evin prison following a hunger strike. The human rights defender, who is facing charges on “propaganda activities against the state” and “gathering and collusion against the national security”, has been arbitrarily detained in Evin prison after he was arrested on 6 February 2024 in Karaj, Alborz province in Iran.
Taher Naghavi is a human rights defender and lawyer. As a graduate of political science, he has written articles since being a university student advocating for the rights of ethnic groups. He has also fought against the discrimination of ethnic minorities, including the Turks in Iran. Notably, he has represented prisoners facing national security related charges.
On 19 June 2024, Taher Naghavi was transferred to the medical clinic in Evin prison, and shortly after to Taleghani hospital and back to Evin prison following a hunger strike that he started one week ago. The human rights defender went on a hunger strike on 12 June in protest against his arbitrary detention and subsequently was transferred to the quarantine ward in Evin prison. His request for a bail has been rejected by the prosecutor office despite the completion of the investigations and the provision of issuance of a bail order before the court convenes. The defender depends on medication for thyroid complications and high blood pressure. He has refrained from taking his medication and receiving nutrition aid via medical intervention.
On 6 February 2024, the house of Taher Naghavi was raided and his electronic devices and those of his family members were confiscated. The arbitrary detention order has been extended since 6 February and the human rights defender has had a hearing on the charges of “propaganda activities against state” and “gathering and collusion against the national security.” At the beginning of his detention, from 6 February to 18 March 2024, Taher Naghavi spent over forty days in Ward 209 of the Evin prison where he was assaulted physically and threatened with killing, harassing family members, and sexual abuse during the interrogations. The human rights defender, who remains under arbitrary detention, has been denied access to a lawyer during this period.
Front Line Defenders is highly concerned about the health situation of the human rights defender Taher Naghavi while on hunger strike under detention in Evin prison. He was transferred from the quarantine ward of the Evin prison to the Evin clinic, and Taleghani hospital due to deterioration of his health situation on the seventh day of his hunger strike.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Iran to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Taher Naghavi and quash his convictions as Front Line Defenders believes that Taher Naghavi has been targeted solely as a result of his legitimate human rights work;
- Urgently transfer the defender to a medical facility and provide him with necessary medical treatment, should he requires it;
- Ensure that the treatment of Taher Naghavi, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment', adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988;
- Cease targeting all human rights defenders in Iran and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
