The family of Miryousef Younesi, a prisoner held in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, says it is concerned after a series of his specialized medical appointments were abruptly canceled as he marks a full year in detention for allegedly being part of a supply network for activists, a claim his supporters say is baseless.
Reza Younesi, Miryousef's son, said that despite confirmation from a medical professional within the prison that his father requires treatment beyond that available at the facility, scheduled appointments have been inexplicably canceled.
He described the move as a "disturbing tactic" by the Ministry of Intelligence "to harass" his father.
Miryousef Younesi, the father of Ali Younesi – a noted student prisoner – was arrested in December 2022 and subsequently transferred to the high-security Ward 209 at Evin prison. A year has passed since his arrest, yet no court proceedings have been initiated in the case.
The ministry alleges Miryousef Younesi was involved with the Mujahedin-e Khalq organization, accusing him of being part of a network supplying financial and logistical support to operational teams within Iran. However, the claims have been met with skepticism by rights supporters.
Ali Younesi, along with Amirhossein Moradi, were arrested in April 2020 and held in detention until April 2022, when a court convicted them of sabotaging public facilities, cooperating with opposition groups, and spreading propaganda against the system. They were handed sentences of 10 years, five years, and one year for the alleged offenses.
The cases prompted a wave of protests from students and professors at the Sharif University of Technology where they were enrolled.
In November 2021, Amnesty International said the two detained students had been tortured by Iranian intelligence agents and held "in prolonged solitary confinement in harsh conditions to extract forced confessions.”
Further adding to the family's ordeal, Aida Younesi, Miryousef's daughter, reported a week after his arrest that he had been subjected to severe interrogation techniques, including sexual slurs and pressure to admit to unfounded charges.
Highlighting the dire situation of his father, Reza Younesi revealed that his father is suffering from pain and hearing impairment.