"Forensic medicine" suspended the execution of my sentence for four months.

I had intended to write about my experience in Evin as soon as possible and to thank all the dear ones who inquired about my well-being. However, the tragedy surrounding the photograph with Mr. Hamid Nouri and the “20:30 National” program (Iran International) disrupted my plans due to my voting.

In 2018, I was sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of criticizing the ineffectiveness of the country's nuclear programs. Mr. “Gholami Mehr,” the then-prosecutor of Tehran, summoned me and said, “We do not intend to execute the sentence; you should also be a bit accommodating.” Mr. Dr. “Ali Salehi,” the new prosecutor, reiterated this warning several times. However, it seems that some of my remarks caused the officials' patience to wear thin, and on the very day I was unveiling my new book, “Why Aren't You Arrested and What Happens in the End?” at the book fair, I was taken to Evin.

I have been diagnosed with cancer for some time, and unfortunately, it has metastasized to two other areas apart from the initial site, and I am undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments. Upon learning about my condition, the officials at Evin informed the forensic medical department, which in turn consulted with the oncology department at Imam Hussein Hospital. Dr. “Payam Azadeh,” the head of the oncology department, wrote a report on my condition and, after consulting with the forensic representative from the hospital, recommended that “due to the need for specialized care, I cannot endure punishment.”

The prison officials conveyed this report to the forensic department. However, the forensic officials, apparently under the impression that I was in the “Mayo Clinic Intensive Care Unit in New York,” responded that necessary care could be provided in prison and did not agree to my conditional release. The officials at Evin reminded the forensic department that the prison cannot provide care for a prisoner with advanced cancer.

On July 2, a specialized forensic commission convened to review my situation. Dr. “Mahdi Aghaei,” the esteemed head of the Cultural and Media Prosecutor’s Office, which handled my case, took significant steps on my behalf and granted me leave to attend the meeting. It was highly effective because immediately after leaving prison, I went to the forensic department, where I was informed that my case file was incomplete. Dr. “Emami” at Razavi Hospital in Mashhad came to my aid and sent reports on the tumors.

This time, the commission suspended the execution of the sentence for four months