Arbitrary Detention’s Opinion in 2018, which found that Mr. Sadeghi was being arbitrarily
deprived of his liberty, as of November 2020 Mr. Sadeghi has not been released. The most recent
communication from Special Procedures raising concerns about Mr. Sadeghi’s lack of access to
medical care was sent in September 2020 and, as of November 2020 has remained unanswered.
Mr. Farhad Meysami6 was the subject of a Special Procedures’ communication sent in October
2018 expressing “deep concern about the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Meysami
whilst in prison”. 7 The Government did not respond to this communication. On 5 October 2020,
Mr. Meysami tested positive for COVID-19 while in prison and was transferred to solitary
confinement where he reportedly received minimal medical attention, despite him already being
in poor health. Eight days later, he was transferred back to the prison where he was previously
detained.8
Mr. Soheil Arabi9 has been in imprisoned since 2013 and has reportedly been intermittently
denied medication even though he suffers from an inflammatory condition since April 2019. He
has also been pressured to pay for his medical expenses. On 1 March 2020, Mr. Arabi was
reportedly denied hospital treatment despite suffering from a severe cough and infection.10
Special Procedures has raised the situation of Ms. Narges Mohammadi11 through six
communications since her detention in 2015. She suffers from numerous health conditions which
make her highly vulnerable to COVID-19, however she remained in prison during the pandemic.
While she was released in October 2020, she was denied adequate medical attention for most of
her time in detention.
In light of the aforementioned cases, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not provided urgent
medical care to those who needed it while in detention.
B. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government, judiciary and the
parliament: ensure that all individuals in custody receive adequate, prompt and
regular health care, including specialist care as needed, on the basis of their
informed consent
6
United For Iran, https://ipa.united4iran.org/en/prisoner/4599/
Special Procedures Communication sent to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 3 October 2018, UA IRN 12/2018,
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=24120
8
Front Line Defenders, https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/human-rights-defender-farhad-meysami-spends-eight-dayssolitary-confinement-after-contracting
9
United For Iran, https://ipa.united4iran.org/en/prisoner/1917/
10
Front Line Defenders, https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/continued-detention-iranian-blogger-soheil-arabi-andjudicial-harassment-his-mother
11
United For Iran, https://ipa.united4iran.org/en/prisoner/2340/
7
2