Two Baha’i citizens of Shiraz who were recently released from Adelabad Prison contracted COVID-19 while inside, with one now fighting for his life in hospital.
Behrouz Farzandi Ardakani and Ghassem Masoumi were among seven Baha’is detained in the city in April in recent fresh crackdowns on the religious minority group.
The group were variously held in solitary confinement in police, IRGC and Shiraz intelligence detention centers.
After interrogation, Masoumi and Farzandi Ardakandi were transferred on April 29 to the notorious penitentiary, where Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari was hanged last year.
The pair were eventually released on May 3 and May 7 after each posting a bail of 800 million tomans (US$36,400). Since arriving home, both have been bedridden after being infected with coronavirus behind bars.
A source close to the pair told IranWire that Ghassem Masoumi is now in hospital with 45 percent lung functionality, having suffered a pulmonary embolism.
Farzandi Ardakandi, a partially disabled Iran-Iraq war veteran, is being treated at home. Before his arrest the ex-prisoner of war had received medical treatment for more than 25 years for a heart problem and neurological difficulties caused by a bomb blast wave, and was reported to be gravely ill in prison.
Related coverage:
A Baha’i War Veteran Fights for His Life in Prison
Baha'i Student Expelled Because of his Faith
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