Yesterday (27th June) Maryam Naghash Zargaran returned to Evin Prison after the prosecutor’s office refused to extend her medical leave to complete her treatment.
Maryam, a believer from a Muslim background, has been held for nearly three years in Evin Prison in Tehran and has been suffering from a variety of health issues, including nausea, headaches and severe weight loss, to the concern of family members and fellow prisoners. Initially, the prosecutor’s office refused to grant Maryam medical leave. However, following a hunger strike to protest against the lack of medical care, Maryam was granted permission to leave prison on 6th June to receive treatment on deposit of a bond of 350 million toman (US$100,000).
On 19th June the court ordered Maryam to return to prison. As Maryam was still not well enough, her family applied for an extension. However, the prosecutor’s office refused to extend her leave and threatened to retain the money submitted as a bond. On 27th June Maryam was escorted back to Evin Prison by members of her family.
Maryam was arrested in January 2013 in connection with her work on an orphanage with the Christian ex-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.
Prayer points
Family and friends are thankful that Maryam was able to receive medical care and spend valuable time at home. They request our prayers that:
a. Maryam will continue to receive proper treatment, and will be restored to good health
b. the Lord will help Maryam and her family now that Maryam is back in prison
c. Maryam will be released unconditionally from prison soon
d. God will move the Iranian authorities and officials to love mercy and act justly
