Medical neglect by Iranian authorities claims lives of Saeed Zaderaiat and many others

March 17, 2025

HRRC strongly condemns the Iranian authorities' systemic denial of medical care to prisoners, which led to the death of Saeed Zaderaiat and others. The international community must take urgent action to hold Iran accountable for these human rights violations.

Ghezelhesar Prison [Image source: Iranwire]

Saeed Zaderaiat, a 50-year-old man detained at Ghezelhesar Prison on drug-related charges, died as a result of delayed medical treatment for severe laryngeal cancer. Despite being moved to a hospital last month, his treatment was delayed for too long, allegedly owing to financial restrictions. He had completed seven of his eleven-year sentence when he died.

However, the death of Saeed Zaderaiat is not the only case of death that occurred due to the negligence of the concerned authorities. Many human rights observers point out that jail officials have regularly failed to provide prompt medical care, resulting in unnecessary deaths. Similar incidents have been documented, including one at Qarchak jail, where a female inmate died after a jail doctor disregarded her condition as a hoax.

According to the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), at least four detainees, Anwar Chaleshi, Hassan Damani, Bahram Darvishi, and Farzaneh Bijanipour, died in Iranian jails in early 2025 as a result of purposeful medical negligence, a common practice in Iran. The real number of such deaths is very certainly substantially higher, as many incidents go unreported owing to a lack of openness and fear of governmental punishment. Many human rights organizations have previously criticized the widespread withholding of medical treatment as a purposeful state policy equivalent to murder, with a focus on political prisoners and vulnerable populations.

According to International Law, such cases violate the United Nations' (UN) Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, leading to several deaths. Iran, as a member of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is obligated to avoid cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and to protect the right to life. Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that, ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.’

Additionally, under Article 29 of the constitution of Iran, medical care and treatment are declared to be ‘universal rights’. According to Article 502 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Iran, if the prisoner’s condition necessitates it, the judicial authorities must order the transfer of the prisoner to a suitable medical facility outside the prison for treatment, and a prisoner’s sentence can be suspended if incarceration will make their illness worse.

Despite being obligated by multiple International and national laws, the Iranian authorities have stripped multiple prisoners of their medical rights. Between June 1 and August 15, 2024, at least 34 political prisoners in Iran were consistently refused access to basic medical care. This refusal includes denying access to prescribed medications and treatments, as well as refusing medically necessary transfers to hospitals for treatment outside of the jail. This vindicates the continuous violation of Iran’s own Criminal Procedure Code.

HRRC calls on the global community, international organizations, and human rights groups to demand proper medical care for Iranian prisoners. This includes access to external healthcare facilities when necessary.

Glossary

Alleged – Said to have happened, but not yet proven.
Consent – Permission to do something.
Degrading – Making someone feel ashamed or worthless.
Detained – Kept in custody or held by authorities.
Detainees – People who are kept in custody or prison.
Disregarded – Ignored or not given attention.
Hoax – A trick or false story meant to deceive people.
Incarceration – Being put in prison.
Inmate – A person in prison or jail.
Laryngeal Cancer – A type of cancer that affects the throat or voice box.
Negligence – Carelessness or failure to take proper care.
Prescribed – Recommended or given, usually by a doctor (like medicine).
Prompt – To cause or encourage something to happen quickly.
Severe – Very serious or extreme.
Substantially – By a large amount or to a great extent.
Vindicates – Proves that someone was right or innocent.
Vulnerable – Easily hurt or at risk of harm.

Sources

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Medical neglect by Iranian authorities claims lives of Saeed Zaderaiat and many others

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