Iran Political Prisoner Somayeh Rashidi Dies Amid Alleged Medical Neglect in Qarchak Prison

Somayeh Rashidi, a 42-year-old political prisoner in Iran, died on September 25, 2025, after suffering from seizures and being denied timely and adequate medical care while detained in Qarchak Prison. She was initially arrested for writing anti-government slogans and was transferred to Qarchak following an Israeli missile strike on Evin Prison. Despite her known epilepsy, prison authorities repeatedly dismissed her seizures as malingering and delayed her hospital transfer until her condition became critical and irreversible. Human rights groups and fellow inmates have condemned the deliberate medical neglect, calling it a form of torture and a violation of the right to life, while Iranian judiciary officials claimed she received multiple medical examinations and attributed her death to pre-existing conditions and alleged opposition activities. The death has sparked calls for independent investigations and urgent reforms to ensure proper healthcare for political detainees, as many others remain at risk under similar conditions in Iranian prisons. This case highlights the ongoing crackdown on dissent under Iran's regime and the severe mistreatment faced by political prisoners.