Deterioration of Behnam Mousivand’s health due to medical negligence
On 8 September 2022, the family of Behnam Mousivand were threatened to be arrested when they were following up on the health situation of the human rights defender. On 7 September 2022, the family announced that their request for immediate medical care for their child has been neglected by the authorities of Rajaie Shahr prison. The human rights defender has been reporting severe headaches, stomachaches and extreme fatigue following a hunger strike that he started on 1 September to protest against his transfer from Evin to Rajaie Shahr prison.
Behnam Mousivand is a human rights defender who has been imprisoned several times because of his human rights work and advocacy for the rights of prisoners and children in Iran. He is also a civil rights activist, he has taken part in humanitarian projects in areas affected by earthquakes, and has advocated for the right to freedom of assembly during 2009 and January 2018 general protests in Iran.
On 8 September 2022, the family of Behnam Mousivand were threatened to be arrested when they were following up on the health situation of the human rights defender. On 7 September 2022, the family announced that their request for immediate medical care for their child has been neglected by the authorities of Rajaie Shahr prison. The human rights defender has been reporting severe headaches, stomachaches and extreme fatigue following a hunger strike that he started on 1 September to protest against his transfer from Evin to Rajaie Shahr prison.
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Behnam Mousivand is a human rights defender who has been imprisoned several times because of his human rights work and advocacy for the rights of prisoners and children in Iran. He is also a civil rights activist, he has taken part in humanitarian projects in areas affected by earthquakes, and has advocated for the right to freedom of assembly during 2009 and January 2018 general protests in Iran.
In September 2022, Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced the human rights defender to five years in prison under the charge of “gathering and collusion against the national security” and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against state” under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.
On 4 September 2022, the human rights defender recorded a very low blood pressure and during his visit with his mother he could hardly walk or talk. On 1 September 2022, Behnam Mousivand went on a hunger strike after he was informed by the Evin prisoners about his transfer to Taleghani hospital. Instead, he was physically assaulted and transferred to Rajaie Shahr prison. The human rights defender had previously been on hunger strike in May 2022 for 16 days. He accepted to end the hunger strike only after he was promised medical check-ups for gastrointestinal complications and prostate deficiencies which have impacted his kidneys after the medical negligence of the prison’s authorities during his detention.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned by the failure of prison authorities of Evin and Rajaie Shahr prisons to respond efficiently and effectively to Behnam Mousivand’s medical needs. It is particularly concerned because of the vulnerable health condition of the human rights defender, his pre-existing pulmonary problems and the living conditions for detainees in the prison. Front Line Defenders believes that the treatment of Behnam Mousivand in Rajaie Shahr prison, his transfer from Evin prison and the denial of access to medical care and necessary medication are solely due to his peaceful and legitimate work in defense of human rights in Iran.
