Iranian Political Prisoner Sarv Makes Suicide Attempt

Zohreh Sarv, an Iranian political prisoner who has been on hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin prison for three weeks, attempted to take her own life.

According to the activist HRANA news agency, Sarv was taken to hospital on December 12 after swallowing 30 anxiolytic pills, and was returned to prison a few hours later.

HRANA quoted sources close to the family as saying that she was distressed by pressures and threats from prison officials. 

Despite her deteriorating health due to an ongoing hunger strike launched on November 23, the inmate is denied release on probation or medical furlough, it said.

Voice of America reported that Sarv made her attempt suicide after agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened her because she refused to “cooperate” with them.

Sarv had previously announced in a letter that she would end her hunger strike if she was released from prison. 

She complained that the prison authorities were preventing her from receiving medical attention.

Former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi asked Sarv to end her hunger strike and said that the Islamic Republic and its leader bore responsibility for anything that happened to the political prisoner.

“The life of Zohreh Sarv is in danger, and responsibility for her life lies with the Islamic Republic and with Ali Khamenei, personally. She and all political prisoners in Iran must be released unconditionally,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

“To Zohreh Sarv: in the clutches of the Islamic Republic, you have proven your commitment and patriotism. Now it is time to end your hunger strike. This struggle will continue until Iran’s liberation and we need you healthy and alive for its victory.”

Sarv has been serving a six-year prison term since October 2021 on charges of "gathering, colluding and propaganda against the system."

Prior to her arrest, she was actively engaged on social media.

She is the only caretaker of her 75-year-old mother, who is unable to leave the house due to her old age and a hip fracture. 

The old woman is attended to by a nurse during her daughter’s imprisonment. The two have not been able to meet for 27 months.