Iran coronavirus update: 13,000 dead in 231 cities

Iran coronavirus update: 13,000 dead in 231 cities

The coronavirus epidemic is spreading to many cities across Iran

Reporting by PMOI/MEK

Iran, March 28, 2020—More than 13,000 people have died of coronavirus in 231 cities checkered throughout all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to reports collected by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as of Saturday afternoon local time, March 28.

The death toll in various provinces includes: 1,300 in Gilan, 1,070 in Khorasan Razavi, 1,030 in Mazandaran, 520 in Alborz, 290 in Hamedan, 90 in Semnan, 33 in South Khorasan, 20 in Hormozgan, in addition to other provinces.

Over 13,000 dead of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran

The regime’s Health Ministry spokesperson announced 3,076 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, showing a 220-percent increase in comparison to last Saturday, March 21.

Eyewitness reports from the city of Babol and adjacent villages in northern Iran indicate an ongoing and devastating catastrophe as we speak. A few individuals have lost their lives in each street and alley, and there are no villages without coronavirus casualties. There are nearly no families without coronavirus victims. Conditions in morgues and cemeteries are described as hectic. Most local officials are not present and those who are present do not provide any answers.

Head of the local Khomeini Hospital in Ardabil, northwest Iran, says the numbers provided by the Health Ministry reflect only those who have tested positive, going on to say not all patients have been tested. "The hospital is full, and the medical staff is exhausted," he continued. "Physicians and nurses are truly doing all they can, and I sometimes start to cry… During the past 24 hours we have had 290 people coming into the hospital," he added in an interview aired March 27 on state TV.

Despite the catastrophic numbers of COVID-19 victims, Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani, who remains extremely concerned and focused on possible protests, revealed his anger over revelations regarding the scope of this coronavirus disaster. “Those who spread rumors… are close colleagues of coronavirus!” he said and continued his preposterous lies. “The pillars of our health apparatus are so strong that not only have they remained firm to this day, even if it takes another few weeks and sees a new rise, our hospitals, physicians and nurses are ready to provide services… We’re not among those countries that our patients are on the ground of our hospitals,” he added.

Coinciding with Rouhani’s despicable lies, a senior official in the regime’s Counter Coronavirus Headquarters made significant remarks at a conference held in the Health Ministry. “Back in late January, this virus was spreading very slowly in a few cities, without making much noise… We have yet to reach the peak in Tehran… We hope we have enough beds in Tehran when we reach the peak of the epidemic,” he said.

All the while, the regime’s crackdown and censorship measures continue against people posting news and statistics of the coronavirus epidemic. Colonel Amirli, deputy head of the mullahs’ internet police, FATA, said on Saturday, March 28, that 974 individuals have been identified and 316 cases have been filed in this regard. 299 cases were warned in telephone calls and ordered to delete their posts from their timelines on social networks.

On the other hand, the conditions of prisoners in Iran are becoming all the more dire. A number of inmates in the prisons of Urmia, Greater Tehran Prison (Fashafuyeh), Ghezel Hessar and other facilities have lost their lives to COVID-19. In the past few days, defenseless prisoners in Khorramabad, Aligudarz, Tabriz, and Saqqez have launched riots. A number of these inmates have been able to flee, and others were killed by Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) opening fire. In response, the mullahs’ so-called judiciary have escalated oppressive measures in various prisons, especially in the Greater Tehran Prison and banned their open-air time.

Iranian opposition President Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), once again warned about a major catastrophe and crime against humanity in Iran’s prisons.

Madam Rajavi called for urgent action by the United Nations Secretary-General, Security Council, Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the European Union for the release of all prisoners, especially political prisoners, across Iran.

Maryam Rajavi

✔@Maryam_Rajavi

I urge the UN Secretary General and Security Council to take urgent action for a visit to Ghezelhessar Prison in Karaj, #Iran, by an international medical team and lawyers #COVID19

Humanitarian conditions deteriorate in Iran’s prisons amid coronavirus outbreak

Humanitarian conditions deteriorate in Iran’s prisons amid coronavirus outbreak

Iranian prisoners are under the threat of contracting coronavirus

Reporting by PMOI/MEK  

Iran, March 25, 2020—As the infection and death toll of the novel coronavirus continues to mount across Iran, prisons are hit especially badly, as the regime intentionally refrains from providing prisoners with the means to protect themselves against the virus.

Despite the coronavirus outbreak in Ghezelhesar Prison, Karaj, there are no hygiene supplies such as soap and detergent for the prisoners. The prisoners are also lacking masks and gloves. The cells are not disinfected regularly. The prison’s water is cut off four hours per day. Baths are closed and there is no warm water. 

According to reports, prison authorities have said to prisoners that the hot water tank is broken and asked prisoners for money to buy a new one. In response to the prisoners' protest, the guards said, “You will die and then will be relieved.”

At the same time, vicious torture of prisoners continues. After 9:30 PM the lights are turned off. Intrusive inspections are performed in the halls. Prison guards inspect prisoners’ belongings and leave them in disarray. They also steal their clothes and watches. Any kind of protest is severely punished.

Meanwhile, there is also news that coronavirus is spreading in Urmia prison.

Several political prisoners in Urmia Prison are infected with coronavirus. Abdolsalam Mardan Zargeh, a political prisoner who is on hunger strike, was transferred to the medical center on Monday, March 21, following the deterioration of his health. He tested positive for coronavirus.

According to reports received from inside the prison, Kia Mazaheri, the prison store owner of the Central Urmia Prison, was transferred out of prison because he had contracted coronavirus. All the political prisoners were in contact with him daily, and as a result, they are all at risk of contracting coronavirus.

The Iranian regime still denies freeing the prisoners.

In her New Year remarks, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of the Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said:

“Coronavirus outbreak in prisons coupled with the regime’s inhuman treatment of prisoners has exposed many prisoners, and particularly political prisoners, to death. Prison environments, already severely contaminated, have turned into the epicenter for spreading the virus. In most prisons, including Evin, Qezel-Hessar, Gohardasht, Ardabil, Urmia, Quchan, Zahedan, Kermanshah, and Sanandaj the numbers of Corona cases are on the rise while there is no adequate medical treatment. All prisoners are at risk.”

Mrs. Rajavi emphasized, “The regime must first be pressured through protests and international pressure to put the medical resources presently monopolized by the IRGC at the disposal of physicians, hospitals and the public. It must immediately release all prisoners, and particularly political prisoners. The regime must provide physicians and nurses with adequate preventive and medical equipment. It must distribute free preventive and medical equipment to infected patients. It must pay the salaries of workers and employees who do not go to work to stay away from the infection.

“Secondly, it is imperative that international bodies stand up to the regime’s criminal policies. We urge supervisory and medical care delegations from the World Health Organization to visit Iran. We urge the UN Secretary General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to not delay taking action to save the lives and health of prisoners in Iran.”

Background

The poor health conditions of Iran’s prisons are nothing new. Reports in October 2019 claimed that in Karaj Central Prison every prison hall that has the capacity for 200 people is effectively packed by 700 people in each hall by prison authorities. Due to lack of space and beds in cells, many of the prisoners are forced to sleep on the ground and on cardboards.

Prisoners with mental illness and contagious diseases such as hepatitis have been abandoned with no medical care, and they’re mixed with other prisoners, causing the spread of dangerous diseases among the population of the facility.

The situation in other Iranian prisons such as Urmia Central Prison isn’t any better. A prisoner descriped on Jan. 30, 2019 the poor conditions in notorious Evin prison as a hellhole. He wrote: “The wards of Evin Prison are packed with inmates, far higher than the capacity. Twenty to twenty-five inmates are held in one room, most of whom sleep on the floor. The food is very poor in quality. They use soya in the food that is specially made for livestock. The food literally cannot be eaten. There is no sign of vegetables or any protein-rich foods. The inmates are served half-cooked rice and soya on a daily basis.

“In regards to those who become ill, there is literally no medical care. There is not even any medicine or medical care for simple cases of colds. Doctors only visit a very limited number of inmates each day. Each section with 200 inmates are only allowed to send five people for such visits. Even if you are able to be visited there is literally no medicine. Prison authorities say, ‘A noble individual must be found to purchase medicine because the prison has no responsibility in this regard.’

Medical experts slam the Iranian regime’s response to the coronavirus outbreak

Medical experts slam the Iranian regime’s response to the coronavirus outbreak

Medical experts from 19 countries held an online conference on the coronavirus outbreak in Iran

Reporting by PMOI/MEK

Iran, March 9, 2020—The people of Iran have become the victim of a regime that prioritizes its interests over their wellbeing, doctors, pharmacists, and nurses from 19 countries said in an online conference on Sunday. The medical experts discussed how the Iranian regime’s corrupt policies, its cover-up of the epidemic, and subpar response to the spread of the virus have contributed to the current tragedy in Iran, which has already taken the lives of more than 2,300 people and infected numerous people with COVID-19.

An endless stream of secrecy and lies

“During the 2019 uprisings, Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) forces opened fire on demonstrators and killed over 1,500 people,” Samira Ardalan, a medical student from Italy and the moderator of the conference, said in her opening remarks. Those figures were investigated and declared by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The regime still refrains from declaring the official figure of the number of people its security forces have killed.

“Shortly after, IRGC targeted the Ukrainian plane. When students and other people called for accountability, the IRGC again resorted to mass arrests, spread lies and prevented the transfer of the plane’s black box to investigators,” Ardalan added.

The regime has continued the same policy of covering up the truth in respect with the coronavirus outbreak. According to MEK sources, more than 2,300 people have died of the virus so far. The government-declared figure of deaths is 194. “The IRGC continues to cover up the facts. Official figures are not even close to the real numbers,” Ardalan said.

“Transparency is key to fighting epidemics. The regime is preventing news of the epidemic from being broadcasted,” said Dr. Sina Dashti, an infectologist from Sweden.

“The regime is prioritizing its own agendas, including the pro-regime rallies, the elections, and the nuclear program. The regime’s corruption is impeding any possible response to the situation either inside the country or by international organizations,” said Dr. Ali Zahedi, an Iranian physician in Australia.

Early signs of coronavirus infection were seen in Iran while the regime was preparing for pro-government rallies on the anniversary of the 1979 revolution and parliamentary elections. The regime needed large participation in both events in to get a quasi-vote of confidence to continue its crimes and create the impression of popular support inside the country. That’s why regime officials decided to keep the issue secret and prevented from informing the public until February 19, when it acknowledged two COVID-19 deaths.

The regime’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak is in stark contrast to the measures other countries have taken, the medical expert. “In Lombardia, we have more than 5,000 cases and more than 200 deaths. Our hospital has established different departments focusing on infected patients. The Italian government has taken measures to inform people on how to deal with the virus if they are infected and how to prevent the spread of the virus,” said Dr. Masoumeh Taheri, a rheumatologist in Italy.

Abysmal handling of the situation

One of the key shortcomings the medical experts pointed to was the regime’s poor administration of the coronavirus situation and lack of measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

“China quarantined many cities to stop the spread of the disease. But the Iranian regime did not take any actions to stop the virus spread. Now that the virus has expanded to many cities, [Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei says ‘we have seen worse’ and ‘people should pray,” said Dr. Massoud Maghsoodi, a pharmacist in Michigan.

“Quarantine measures were not implemented after the first infection was seen in the city of Qom. No tests were done. Flights to and from China did not stop. They hid information about the coronavirus and did not close public areas such as schools, universities, etc. This lack of transparency is a betrayal of the Iranian people’s trust of the Iranian people,” Dr. Taheri added.

Not only did the regime’s officials refrain from imposing quarantines on hotbed locations in the country, they called quarantines outdated and encouraged people to visit holy shrines to be healed of the virus.

Mahan Air, which is owned by the IRGC, and is purportedly the main culprit in the entrance of COVID-19 to Iran, continues its flights to and from China, further endangering the people of Iran as well as other countries.

“Even China has said that some cases that have tested positive for COVID-19 come from Iran,” said Virginia Pishbeen, microbiologist in Italy. “The Iranian regime’s propaganda are not only putting the population of Iran at risk, but are also turning Iran into an epicenter for transmitting the virus to other countries.”

Coronavirus cases from Iran have been spotted in more than a dozen countries across the world, including the U.S., Canada, and several Middle Eastern nations.

Further rendering the situation critical is the shortage of medical and sanitary gear. “[The coronavirus outbreak] has become a national disaster due to a number of factors, including keeping people uninformed, the criminal cover-up of the situation to bring people to the elections, lack of supplies and medical gear, and the monopoly of the IRGC on Iran’s healthcare apparatus. These factors have contributed to worsening the situation and killing more people,” Dr. Pishbeen said.

“Lack of medicine and medical gear is killing healthcare workers. The IRGC is taking advantage of this situation to make a fortune. Ordinary Iranians are helping supply important material to hospitals while the government does not,” Dr. Dashti added.

There are several reports that the IRGC and other government bodies are hoarding medical and sanitary supplies and selling them at very high prices or exporting them to other countries.

“Our colleagues in Iran are going through a very difficult situation. They are faced with a shortage of medical supplies. The regime has been neglecting the effects of the virus because it has its own agenda. This has been the habit of the regime in the past 40 years,” Dr. Zahedi added.

The people of Iran are fighting two enemies

“[Iranian regime President Hassan] Rouhani and Khamenei are responsible for putting Iranians’ lives at risk. Political prisoners are in danger. I call on the international community to condemn the regime and help save the lives of the people of Iran and political prisoners,” Dr. Taheri said.

At the end of the day, there will be no permanent solution to the coronavirus epidemic and the multitude of calamities that have befell the Iranian people as long as the mullahs are in power, the speakers stressed at the conference.

“Where there are no social and political rights, the right to healthcare will also be missing. I express my support for all my colleagues in Iran who are risking their lives to save the coronavirus patients,” Dr. Pishbeen said.

“The mullahs’ regime cannot and will not do anything to stop this tragedy. They only want to maintain their hold on power. The only solution is to topple this regime,” Dr. Dashti said.

“In every normal country, people rally behind their government to fight disasters. Iranians are left abandoned to fight two viruses: COVID-19 and the mullahs’ regime,” Dr. Zahedi said.