UPDATE (26 November 2025) Aida was rushed back to hospital on 16 November after catching an infection and spent six days there before being returned to Evin Prison on 22 November. She underwent spinal surgery in early November and spent a week at Shahid Tajrish Hospital before being transferred back to prison, despite doctors saying she needed a long recovery period including specialised care and regular physiotherapy.

Aida Najaflou, a 44-year-old Christian convert who has been detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison since February 2025, suffered a spinal fracture after falling from the bunk bed in her prison cell in the early hours of Friday 31 October. Article 18 reported that Aida was denied proper medical treatment for her serious injuries and returned to the women’s ward in Evin Prison the same day.

Immediately after the accident Aida was transferred to Taleghani Hospital, where x-rays confirmed a fracture in the T12 vertebra of her spine, but even though doctors recommended urgent surgery to be followed by a long recovery period, she was sent back to Evin Prison on a stretcher without adequate treatment and in great pain. This heartless decision prompted protests from other political and religious prisoners in the women’s ward and she was eventually transferred to Shahid Tajrish Hospital in Tehran.

Aida suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has previously undergone several major spinal disc surgeries. She was still in recovery from a nine-hour operation when she was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents in February. Despite having repeatedly raised the issue that climbing to the top bunk was dangerous in her condition, Aida was refused her request to be moved to a lower bunk. She has been denied access to adequate medical care repeatedly during her detention, which included 65 days of solitary confinement in Ward 209, operated by the Ministry of Intelligence, and her condition has worsened in recent months. Human rights organisations have accused the Iranian authorities of systematically denying medical care to prisoners of conscience as a form of punishment.

Aida remains in prison as her family is unable to afford the extremely high bail (equivalent to around €115,000) that was set  for her.  She is facing charges of “acting against national security” and “propaganda against the regime”. Her case remains under review alongside the cases of Naser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Joseph Shahbazian and Joseph’s wife Lida Alexani. All four Christians had a court hearing on 18 and 19 September but have not been given a verdict.

Aida has two young sons, aged 10 and 13, the eldest of whom suffers with arthritis and underwent serious spinal surgery earlier this year. He is reported to be especially struggling with his mother’s continued absence.

(Article 18)