Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, April 10, 2020—As the coronavirus epidemic spreads across all of Iran, senior regime officials are voicing grave concerns about the consequences of the mullahs’ criminal policies in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Ebrahim Raisi, head of the regime’s so-called judiciary, warned his apparatus to “follow up and prevent disruptions.” This sheds further light on the Iranian regime’s main concern not being to overcome the coronavirus and saving people’s lives, but to prevent any possible threat to their rule.
“One of the main issues on the agenda of the Supreme Council on Preventing Crimes is focusing on the post-coronavirus stage and evaluating the various possibilities. We also have post-coronavirus social, economic and cultural issues. As long as there is social unrest, all of our apparatuses have a responsibility to prevent these events into becoming crimes. When this transition takes place, naturally the judiciary steps in to follow up. This really needs to take place as preventive measures and the post-coronavirus subject is a very important matter. All aspects need to be evaluated and placed on our agenda, discussed as soon as possible and hopefully, we will not be passive in this regard. We need to be able to actively address our post-coronavirus issues,” Raisi said.
More than 23,100 people have died of coronavirus in 251 cities checkered across all of Iran's 31 provinces, according to the Iranian opposition PMOI/MEK.#Iran#COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/9cJoKuOShO
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 9, 2020
Reports from the regime’s prisons indicate the regime is continuing its oppressive measures. On Monday, April 6, the family members of Adel Nasseri, an inmate held in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz, were informed that “Nasser passed away due to unknown reasons.”
The body of Adel Nasseri was handed over to his family on Wednesday, April 8. During his burial the relatives of this inmate realized the nose area of his face had suffered damage and his nose had signs of bleeding.
The relatives of this prisoner say, “Adel was completely healthy and had no health problems that could result in his sudden death. Adel was killed in the recent prisoners’ protests, and judiciary and security officials are lying and refuse to tell us the truth.”
It is worth noting that family members of prisoners in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz had no information about their loved ones as communications were cut off by authorities following the March 30 riots and protests in this facility.
Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Inmates have reportedly launched a riot in the city's Sepidar Prison. Smoke is seen from the facility.pic.twitter.com/UZ8ZuzAxIW— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 30, 2020
Other reports from Iran’s prisons indicate that 50 political prisoners in ward 15 of Urmia Central Prison in northwest Iran have been infected with coronavirus. Authorities in charge of ward 15, fearing protests and riots by the inmates, have transferred the COVID-19 cases outside of the prison. Twelve other prisoners in wards 3 and 4 are also infected with coronavirus.
Anti-riot units equipped with shockers, various sprays, batons and pellet guns are stationed in various halls of this prison and always on high alert. Meh Ali Farhang, warden of Urmia Central Prison, has threatened the inmates that he has orders from the regime’s judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi that any inmate launching a protest and/or riot should be killed on the spot.
Iranian opposition President Maryam Rajavi warned of crimes against humanity in Iran’s prisons and called for urgent action by the United Nations Secretary-General, Security Council, Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with the European Union, to save the lives of thousands of prisoners in Iran, especially political prisoners.
Many prisoners in various prisons in the country, have contracted #Coronavirus and some have died. These prisons house inmates several times their capacity and lack the minimum health facilities #Iran #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/wDeRzq2KnF
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) April 9, 2020
In other coronavirus news from Iran, the COVID-19 spread in the city of Urmia has reached a catastrophic scale. Coronavirus patients are held in three hospitals and two large sports facilities. These sites include a six-thousand seat stadium, the Bakeri Sports Center, the Khomeini, Imam Reza and Taleghani hospitals.
Physicians, nurses and other medical staff members in Urmia are facing a severe shortage in medical equipment, including masks. The existing masks are very low in quality and are not effective, leaving the physicians, nurses and other medical staff members at grave risk.
