Sara Deldar, a former political prisoner from Rasht, Iran, has died after suffering complications from infections related to gunshot wounds she sustained during the 2022 nationwide protests. Social media reports indicate that Ms. Deldar’s health deteriorated following her release from prison, ultimately leading to her untimely death.
Ms. Deldar was shot by government forces while providing aid to injured protesters during the mass demonstrations of 2022. Despite her humanitarian efforts, she was arrested, tried, and sentenced to one year, three months, and six days in Lakan Prison, Rasht. After serving six and a half months of her sentence, she was released on parole.
In her final Instagram post on July 21, 2024, Ms. Deldar revealed the severe physical toll her imprisonment had taken on her body. She spoke of battling a persistent infection after her release and being admitted to the hospital. She also detailed a range of medical issues she faced, including severe anemia, an enlarged spleen, and complications with her kidneys and ovaries. Her weakened state was a direct consequence of the harsh conditions she endured in prison.
Ms. Deldar also noted that other former prisoners who had been released from Lakan Prison were grappling with similar health issues. The unsanitary and neglectful conditions in Iranian prisons have long been a cause for concern, with many political prisoners suffering from debilitating illnesses that are left untreated or inadequately addressed.
According to testimonies from former inmates, during Ms. Deldar’s time in Lakan Prison, they observed that many of the pellets from the gunshot wounds remained lodged in her legs, head, and neck. Inmates recalled that she constantly experienced severe pain, resorting to painkillers, and often struggled with insomnia. Sources close to her stated that, despite suffering from serious liver problems and being in need of a transplant, she was detained without adequate medical care.
Sara Deldar was a nurse by profession, and during the 2022 protests, she courageously treated the wounded, even when it placed her own life in danger. On a previous Instagram post, she reflected on the day she was taken straight from court to Lakan Prison a year earlier. She wrote:
“Tomorrow marks the day when I was taken directly from the court to Lakan Prison. One year ago, I felt neither fear nor regret. I didn’t question myself or wish I had acted differently. I did nothing wrong, except care for the wounded. We treated the injured, and I refused to stay silent in the face of injustice. My conscience guided me, and my pen wrote only the truth.”
In the days leading up to the anniversary of the 2022 protests, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence reportedly pressured Ms. Deldar’s family to keep her death private. As a result, her funeral ceremony was held with only a few family members in attendance, under the watchful eye of the authorities.
Sara Deldar’s death is not an isolated incident. In recent years, numerous political prisoners with pre-existing health conditions have died due to the worsening conditions in Iranian prisons. The Iranian regime has consistently denied responsibility for these deaths, maintaining that all prisoners receive appropriate and timely medical attention. However, between May 30 and August 15 of this year alone, at least 34 political prisoners in various Iranian prisons were deliberately denied access to adequate medical services.
Ms. Deldar’s story is emblematic of the broader struggle faced by political prisoners in Iran and the ongoing human rights violations that continue to occur within the country’s prison system.
