According to reports received by Karun Human Rights Organization, Abdullah Heydari, a prisoner of conscience held in Ward 8 of Sheiban Prison in Ahwaz, was transferred on Sunday, December 21, to a hospital outside the prison due to a serious deterioration in his physical condition.
Based on the information obtained, Mr. Heydari—who has been detained for more than seven months—had previously contracted influenza. As his condition worsened, he developed severe kidney pain and was subsequently diagnosed with a kidney infection. Informed sources have described his medical condition as concerning.
Sources further report that influenza has spread widely in Ward 8 of Sheiban Prison, which currently holds approximately 187 prisoners. This outbreak has raised serious concerns regarding public health conditions, inadequate medical care, and the overall safety of detainees in the facility.
Previously, the Karun Human Rights Organization had reported that Ward 5 of Sheiban Prison in Ahwaz, which houses more than 113 political prisoners, is facing critical health and psychological conditions due to severe overcrowding and a lack of adequate sanitary and living space. Insufficient exposure to sunlight and limited access to outdoor exercise areas have reportedly led to widespread vitamin D deficiency, skin diseases, and mental health distress among prisoners.
According to the report, the outdoor yard in Ward 5 measures only 6.5 by 13 meters, rendering it inadequate even for basic physical activity. Prisoners are unable to walk or rest properly. Additionally, the lack of sunlight and appropriate space for drying clothes has forced detainees to wear damp or semi-dried clothing, a condition that has contributed to the spread of skin infections and other health problems, symptoms of which have been observed among many inmates.
Human rights organizations continue to warn that systematic neglect of prisoners’ health, overcrowding, and denial of adequate medical treatment in Iranian prisons constitute serious violations of international human rights standards, including the right to health and humane treatment of detainees.
