Maryam was sentenced to 4 years in prison on July 15, 2013 for "acting against national security" - simply because she had converted from Islam to Christianity and was active in the underground church in the country. Maryam is still unable to receive the necessary medical treatment she needs in prison. According to Mohabat News, sources in Tehran who are close to Maryam say that her health condition deteriorated sharply last week and that she is now in urgent need of medical treatment. According to Maryam's prison cellmate, she is also suffering from drastic weight loss.
Prison does not provide satisfactory medical care
Maryam suffers from 'hole in the heart' (atrial septal defect), osteoporosis, arthritis and osteoarthritis of the back, and she has previously undergone heart surgery. The Evin prison health center does not have the resources to adequately treat Maryam's health problems. Therefore, in 2016, after massive struggles and several hunger strikes, she was allowed to take a few short-term medical leaves from prison to receive treatment at the hospital. When Maryam returned after a short leave period in December 2016, she was told that her prison sentence would be extended by 42 days to compensate for the medical leave periods.
Sources close to Maryam say that it is the combination of Maryam's weakened health and the extended prison sentence that has intensified her illness. It is not known for sure if Maryam has come out of the traumatic and depressive state she was in mid-2016, which her family spoke openly about.
The mother's illness is a result of stress over Maryam's health condition and her own commitment to her daughter's cause
Maryam's relatives are under pressure
Maryam's critical and difficult situation has also kept her family awake at night. Maryam's mother has been following the case very closely and has made frequent visits to the prosecutor's office to hear updates on the case. Maryam's mother has recently been diagnosed and is now suffering from a brain disease. The mother's illness has arisen as a result of stress over Maryam's health condition and her own involvement in her daughter's case. The case surrounding Maryam and her family has now come to a head, as Maryam has been denied medical leave and is unable to visit her sick mother.
What can you do?
1. pray for Maryam and her family:
- About encouragement and strength
- Medical judgment
- Medical leave for Maryam
2. Write a letter of encouragement to Maryam
- Download and print this letter of encouragement (Click here to read it in Danish). Write a small personal greeting to her. It must not be critical of Iran.
- Date and sign the letter.
- Send it:
- scanned to Danish European Mission at: info@forfulgtekristne.dk
- or by post to Danish European Mission, Drejervej 15, 2400 Copenhagen NV. We will then forward it to Iran.
Image: Mohabat News
