Iran: Christian prisoner in urgent need of medical care

Family and friends of Maryam (Naseem) Naghash Zargaran, a believer from a Muslim background who has been held for nearly three years in Evin prison in Tehran, are greatly concerned about her present situation and request prayer for her treatment and release from prison.

On Thursday 27th May Maryam went on hunger strike as a protest against the lack of adequate medical treatment for long-standing health problems. She has refused solids and liquids and has not allowed prison medical staff to give her serum. Sources close to the family say that her condition is serious and that Maryam is close to becoming comatose.

Maryam has a history of heart problems. In addition, she has recently been suffering from pain in her ears and severe headaches. She has lost a lot of weight and continues to suffer from depression. Although the medical authorities in the prison recognise the severity of her condition and the need for treatment, the prosecutor’s office has refused to allow Maryam to leave prison to receive adequate care. The only concession was in October 2015, when she was allowed to go to a hospital for a few days, but forced to return to prison without receiving full treatment.

It has been reported that fellow prisoners in the prison ward have shown their support for Maryam by forgoing family visits yesterday (29th May) as a form of protest.

Maryam was arrested in January 2013 in connection with her work on an orphanage with former Christian prisoner Saeed Abedini. She was charged with “acting against national security” and was sentenced to four years imprisonment, which she started serving on 15th July 2013 in the women’s ward of Evin prison. A request for a re-trial was refused.

MAY BE CIRCULATED TO GENERAL MAILING LISTS AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS, AND QUOTED FROM FREELY IN REPORTS CITING “MIDDLE EAST CONCERN” AS THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION.