Sajjad Molaei, an Azerbaijani Turkic political prisoner held in the political prisoners’ ward of Orumiyeh Central Prison, has been left in poor physical condition after suffering a heart attack and has been denied access to adequate medical care.
An informed source in Orumiyeh who spoke to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) said: “On the evening of 28 February 2026, following air strikes by Israeli and US fighter jets on the city and out of concern for the situation of his family, Sajjad Molaei suffered a heart attack and lost consciousness. After several hours, he was transferred to Seyyed al-Shohada Hospital in Orumiyeh, but while his left arm was numb he was returned to prison without receiving proper medical treatment and has since been held in poor conditions in prison.”
Molaei, from Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, had previously been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence office in the city in June 2025 during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran after posting a story on his personal Instagram page.
In late June 2025, after appearing before the security body and undergoing several hours of interrogation, he was released after signing a written undertaking.
However, on 8 July 2025, after being summoned to Branch 10 of the Investigation Unit of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Orumiyeh, he was arrested and transferred to Orumiyeh Central Prison.
After 44 days in detention, his case was heard on 19 August 2025 via video conference at Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Orumiyeh, presided over by Judge Dousti.
During his detention, Molaei suffered another heart attack but prison authorities opposed his transfer to medical facilities.
He was released on bail on 20 August 2025 but was later sentenced to 16 months in prison on charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader” and two years and one day in prison on charges of “media activity aimed at strengthening and consolidating the Zionist regime” and “propaganda against the state”.
On 9 December 2025, he was transferred to Orumiyeh Central Prison to serve his prison sentence.
