Mahboubeh Karami, Human Rights and Women Activists prisoner with sever health problems not permitted for medical leave

HRANA News Agency – Mahboubeh Karami, Human Rights and Women Activists prisoner with sever physical and mental problems was not permitted for medical leave by Iran's judicial authorities.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Mahboubeh Karami, Political prisoner of the Women Ward of Evin prison, had been on medical leave two times, just three and seven days, but was backed to prison with incomplete medical period by judicial authorities.

Mahboubeh Karami, 42, was arrested in March 2010 and detained, without charge or trial, in solitary confinement in Evin Prison, Tehran until 18 August 2010, at which time she was released on bail equivalent to US$500,000. She began serving a three-year prison sentence on 15 May 2011, imposed for her peaceful activities in support of greater rights for women. She was convicted of “membership of an illegal organization (HRAI)”, “gathering and colluding with intent to harm state security and for spreading propaganda against the system”.

Mahboubeh Karami has health problems that her family and friends fear will worsen in prison. She was suffering from depression at the time of her arrest in March 2010, which became more severe while she was in detention. She is also said to suffer from insomnia and respiratory problems. She was in detention at the time of her mother’s death in 2009 and she was not allowed prison leave to attend the one year anniversary of her mother’s death. Prior to her arrest, she was the only carer for her aging father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Her father also passed away later.

Mahboubeh Karami had been arrested four times before on similar charges. Each time, she was detained for several days before being released.