Friends of Christian prisoner Maryam Naghash Zargaran report that her medical leave has been cancelled and she has returned to Evin Prison in Tehran.
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.
Maryam, who was previously granted medical furlough for a range of health issues in June 2016, started a hunger strike on 5th July to demand her immediate and unconditional release in view of the inadequate treatment for a variety of health issues. She ended the hunger strike at the request of her family at the beginning of August.
Maryam’s health deteriorated considerably during the hunger strike, her blood pressure dropped, she had pains and numbness in her feet and suffered psychological issues as a consequence of her imprisonment. Prison officials examined Maryam on 20th July and provided a medical report confirming the seriousness of her condition, but her demand for release was denied at that time by an Iranian court at the request of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS).
Prison authorities allowed Maryam to go home to receive medical treatment at the end of August, but on conditions that Maryam felt unable to comply with, resulting in the cancellation of her furlough from prison. Maryam returned to Evin on 17th September.
Those close to Maryam understand that she was unable to receive adequate medical treatment during the medical furlough.
Open source: Human Rights Activists News Agency
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
Those supporting Maryam request our prayers that:
a. Maryam will know God’s encouragement, recovery and strengthening
b. the Lord will also encourage and support Maryam’s family
c. Maryam will be released unconditionally from prison
d. God will move the Iranian authorities and officials to love mercy and act justly
