Iranian Doctors Detained After Treating Protesters, Defying Regime Denials
Despite official denials by Iran's regime, doctors have been arrested and detained after providing medical treatment to protesters, revealing a disturbing crackdown on healthcare professionals. Sky News reports that internal medicine specialist Dr. Yaser Rahmani-Rad was arrested following his accusations against security forces for arresting injured protesters inside hospitals and removing medical equipment, with claims that patients "deserve to die."
Brave Testimony Leads to Arrest
Dr. Rahmani-Rad, who worked at Tehran's Rasul Akram public hospital, gave an interview to Sky News in late January, describing how security forces had taken "full control" of hospitals during nationwide protests. He detailed how injured individuals were tracked via security cameras and detained, with colleagues reporting that patients were removed from ventilators and other life-saving equipment. Despite receiving threats from security forces, including warnings to cease social media activity or face arrest, Dr. Rahmani-Rad posted another video on Instagram around February 11, criticizing the regime for violence against those unable to afford treatment.
International Concern and Disappearance
Following his arrest, Dr. Rahmani-Rad's Instagram account was wiped, and friends, such as neuroscientist Dr. Keyvan Yahia, have been unable to contact him. His father confirmed that he was detained upon arrival at the hospital and taken to an undisclosed location, leaving his family in the dark about his whereabouts. This case is not isolated; Sky News understands that another internal medicine specialist, Dr. Golnaz Naraghi, was arrested two weeks ago and transferred to Qarchak women's prison near Tehran.
Broader Crackdown on Medical Professionals
The regime's targeting of doctors extends further, with surgeon Alireza Golchini previously charged with "waging war against God," an offense carrying the death penalty, for performing surgery on approximately 20 protesters. Although he has been released on bail, the charges have been changed to "the incitement of protest and rebellion," potentially leading to two to five years in jail. These incidents highlight a systematic effort to silence medical professionals who aid protesters, contradicting the regime's public denials and raising serious human rights concerns.
