Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday accused Iranian authorities of causing the deaths of three women in Qarchak prison due to a systematic denial of adequate medical care, highlighting severe violations of rights and medical negligence within Iran's penal system.

The deceased, identified as Soudabeh Asadi, Jamile Azizi, and Somayeh Rashidi, suffered severely due to the lack of timely and appropriate medical intervention. Asadi, detained on financial charges, died on September 16 after her urgent need for hospitalization was ignored. Azizi passed away on September 19; prison staff reportedly neglected her acute heart attack symptoms until it was too late. Rashidi, a 42-year-old political prisoner, died on September 25 in a hospital, succumbing to complications ten days after a severe seizure. HRW reports suggest that initial mismanagement by prison officials, who doubted the authenticity of her medical needs and administered harmful sedatives, significantly worsened her condition.

Contrary to HRW's allegations, Iranian officials confirmed Rashidi's death but defended their actions by stating she had a history of drug use and neurological problems, claiming she received adequate care. This official stance is vehemently disputed by rights advocates, who argue it reflects a broader, intentional policy of withholding essential healthcare from inmates, especially those jailed on political grounds.

HRW's report condemned these actions as a direct violation of the right to life, stating, "The three women’s deaths are part of a documented policy by authorities denying prisoners access to healthcare, sometimes to punish and silence dissent." This accusation aligns with an April 2022 Amnesty International report that detailed similar neglect leading to multiple custodial deaths across 30 prisons since 2010.

The notoriously harsh conditions of Qarchak prison, originally a chicken farm now repurposed to incarcerate thousands of women—including many political detainees and prisoners of conscience—exacerbate these issues. The facility is infamous for overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and failing to meet minimal international standards for prisoner treatment.

These recent deaths have cast a renewed spotlight on Iran's obligations under international law, particularly the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules, which mandate equal access to necessary medical services for all prisoners. HRW has called for urgent international intervention to hold Iranian authorities accountable and safeguard the well-being of other at-risk inmates.