Conservationist Sam Rajabi contracted the COVID-19 in Evin Prison

Iran-HRM – Conservationist Sam Rajabi has contracted the COVID-19 while in detention in Evin Prison.

Mr. Rajabi has been transferred to the prison’s infirmary according to his family. According to his lawyer, Sam Rajabi’s infection was diagnosed on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 when he had been taken to a civic hospital to undergo surgery and during examinations done before the operation.

Mohammad Aghassi, Sam Rajabi’s lawyer, said he was returned to Evin Prison and held in the infirmary immediately after the diagnosis was made.

In a call to his family, Sam Rajabi said he was being held in the prison’s quarantine section.

Mr. Rajabi does not have apparent symptoms of the disease, his lawyer noted. His request for prison leave was not granted since his sentence is more than 5 years.

Sam Rajabi had been taken to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran on March 17 as he was suspected of being infected with the virus. But he was returned to Evin Prison on March 18 saying his coronavirus test was negative and he was suffering from the flu.

Sam Rajabi’s sister, Katyoun Rajabi, had earlier said in this regard, “What should happen for prison authorities to believe that my brother’s life is in danger? Sam is suffering from lung disease. He has informed (the authorities) about it, but since he is a conservationist convict, nobody pays attention to his calls. I announced this publicly, so that you (government officials) could not claim that you were unaware.”