Shahin Najaf Qoli Zadeh, a 44-year-old citizen suffering from schizophrenia, has been held in Evin Prison for over 100 days under inhumane conditions, without judicial attention or medical treatment, despite the detaining authority requesting his release.
Iran Human Rights Society, June 1, 2025 – More than 100 days after the arrest of Shahin Najaf Qoli Zadeh, a prisoner with schizophrenia, concerns about his deteriorating physical and mental health have escalated. Shahin, detained during a protest gathering on February 14, 2024, is currently held in Ward 4 of Evin Prison under illegal and inhumane conditions, without access to healthcare, legal representation, or the ability to post the set bail.
Mehdi Mahmoudian, a human rights activist and political prisoner, issued a warning on his personal page, stating: “Shahin is on the verge of psychological collapse. He writes notes that resemble last wills. He has lost hope and grows more isolated each day.”
According to Mahmoudian, the prison psychiatrist has explicitly confirmed Shahin’s severe mental illness, stating he should not be held in prison due to his condition. Even the Ministry of Intelligence, one of the detaining security entities, has formally requested his immediate release in a letter to the Security Prosecutor’s Office. However, neither the judiciary has taken steps to free or treat him, nor has the Forensic Medicine Organization provided clear responses.
Denied Treatment, Denied Legal Counsel
Despite the confirmed severity of his mental condition, Shahin Najaf Qoli Zadeh remains deprived of basic legal rights. Mahmoudian reports that Shahin’s family is unable to visit or pursue legal action, and they have been barred from appointing a lawyer due to the case’s “security” classification, a clear violation of fair trial principles.
Notably, a hefty bail of 1.4 billion tomans (approximately $28,000 USD) was set for Shahin’s release. Despite the family’s readiness to provide it, permission has been denied, violating Iran’s Criminal Procedure Code, which mandates that detainees awaiting a final verdict must have the opportunity for release on bail.
Forensic Medicine’s Deafening Silence
Another troubling aspect is the inaction of the Forensic Medicine Organization in a case where both the prison psychiatrist and a security institution have emphasized the urgent need for treatment. Why, despite clear evidence of the necessity for immediate care and release, does the Forensic Medicine Organization remain silent?
This situation can be considered psychological torture and inhumane treatment, as continuing to detain a person with schizophrenia in a confined prison environment without psychiatric care only exacerbates symptoms and leads to complete psychological breakdown.
Silent Death in Prison
Shahin is not an isolated case; he represents dozens, perhaps hundreds, of prisoners with mental illnesses in Iran’s security-judicial system who, instead of being referred to treatment facilities, are abandoned in general prisons under harsh physical and psychological conditions. This trend, which has intensified in recent years, has led to silent, gradual deaths behind prison walls.
Within this inhumane system, neither domestic oversight bodies nor international organizations can effectively prevent the immediate violation of the rights of mentally ill prisoners, underscoring the urgent need for legal, media, and public intervention.
Human Rights Violations and International Standards
The detention and treatment of Shahin Najaf Qoli Zadeh in his dire mental state, without medical care or judicial process, violates several articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
Article 6: Right to life; denying treatment in critical conditions can lead to death.
Article 7: Prohibition of torture; deliberate neglect of mental illness constitutes psychological torture.
Article 9: Right to liberty; detention without access to bail violates this article.
Article 10: Humane treatment of prisoners; holding a mentally ill person in a general prison contradicts this principle.
Article 14: Right to a fair trial; denial of legal counsel and a transparent judicial process is a direct violation.
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