Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou: a group of doctors and medical staff tell the judiciary in a letter of his critical condition

A group of Iranian doctors and medical staff, in a letter addressed to the Islamic Republic's judiciary on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, expressed concern over the deteriorating physical condition of Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou, a radiologist and political prisoner. The letter follows DIAR's earlier report on the serious lung damage suffered by the imprisoned doctor, and shows that two weeks on, no effective action has been taken to treat him.

The signatories of the letter, who are Ghare-Hasanlou's professional colleagues, describe his physical condition as critical. Human rights activists had earlier reported that doctors had diagnosed serious damage to his left lung and that, given his severe physical weakness, he might need to have the left lung removed. Even so, the authorities continue to hold him in Yazd Central Prison.

Background to Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou's case

Hamid Ghare-Hasanlou and his wife, Farzaneh Ghare-Hasanlou, a laboratory sciences specialist, were arrested during the nationwide uprising of 2022. Security bodies accused them of involvement in the death of Ruhollah Ajamian, a Basij member; yet testimonies and initial statements showed that at the memorial ceremony for Hadis Najafi on the fortieth day after her death, the doctor had only tried to give medical aid to an injured person.

On 5 December 2022, the Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on a charge of "corruption on earth" and his wife to 25 years in prison in exile. After a broad outcry from the medical community in Iran and abroad, the Supreme Court, in December 2022–January 2023, overturned the death sentence because of flaws in the investigation. In March–April 2023, a court of equal rank sentenced him to 15 years in prison in Yazd and his wife to five years in prison in Mashhad.

Political prisoners denied treatment

Denying treatment to sick political prisoners is a practice repeated in many cases, among them Fatemeh Jami in Gorgan prison, who has been denied treatment despite needing surgery. In past years, Iran's medical community has repeatedly written letters for the release of its imprisoned colleagues and has held the judiciary directly responsible for their lives.

A doctor who was arrested for helping an injured person is now himself, with a damaged lung, denied effective treatment in Yazd prison.