Farbod Hassanvand, a 22-year-old resident of Masjed Soleiman and a participant in Iran’s nationwide protests of 2022, is reported to be in serious physical condition while being held at Masjed Soleiman Prison. A close associate told Voice of America on Friday, December 12, that Hassanvand—who uses a prosthetic leg—is suffering from a severe infection and is in urgent need of medical treatment, yet continues to be denied adequate healthcare.

Hassanvand was arrested in the early hours of June 18, 2025, following a raid by security forces and subsequently transferred to Masjed Soleyman Prison. According to his family, he had been under surveillance since the 2022 protests and was forced to live in hiding for an extended period prior to his arrest.

The charges brought against Hassanvand reportedly include “insulting religious sanctities,” “insulting the Supreme Leader and officials of the Islamic Republic,” “propaganda against the state,” and “causing public disorder.” Human rights organizations note that such charges are routinely and broadly applied in cases involving protesters and political detainees.

Relatives state that prison authorities have expressed dissatisfaction with the public disclosure of his condition and have issued verbal assurances that his case would be “addressed.” However, weeks have passed without any concrete action, and Hassanvand has not been transferred to a specialized medical facility.

In recent months, multiple reports have documented an escalation of pressure on political prisoners in the Ahwaz region, including individuals detained in the aftermath of the 12-day war. These reports point to a worsening pattern of medical neglect and mistreatment, particularly affecting prisoners with serious or life-threatening health conditions across several detention facilities in the region.