Following Israeli airstrikes on Evin Prison, detainees relocated to various facilities in Iran report unbearable living conditions. Families express concern for the well-being of their loved ones, with many inmates facing overcrowding, limited sanitary facilities, and poor hygiene. Human rights organizations call for investigations into these conditions, highlighting the serious implications of the strikes that resulted in both prisoner and civilian casualties.
Inhumane Prison Conditions Faced by Iranian Detainees Post-Israeli Airstrikes
Inhumane Prison Conditions Faced by Iranian Detainees Post-Israeli Airstrikes
Detainees relocated from Evin Prison to other facilities experience overcrowded, unsanitary conditions amid international outcry.
Iranian detainees relocated from Evin Prison are suffering under horrifying conditions after being moved to other facilities in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on June 23. Reports from family members and human rights groups indicate that inmates are facing severe overcrowding, lack of ventilation, and unsanitary living situations in these new prisons.
Despite promises from Iranian authorities to improve conditions, former inmates from Evin, which housed thousands including political dissidents and human rights activists, report that the situation remains dire. Many are now held in Fashafouyeh and Qarchak prisons, where they contend with inadequate amenities, including insufficient beds, toilets, and showers, along with problems like insect infestations.
On the day of the attack, which reportedly killed 80 individuals — including prisoners, prison staff, and military personnel — the Israeli military characterized Evin as a center of oppression used for intelligence operations. The strikes have been condemned by Iranian officials as a "war crime," while organizations such as Amnesty International assert that the attack constituted a serious breach of international humanitarian law, noting that there was no justification for classifying the prison as a legitimate military target.
The prisoners now face increased dangers, as political detainees are often mixed with violent offenders, a tactic decried by human rights advocates as a method of intimidation. For those like Fariba Kamalabadi, a Baha'i detainee now at Qarchak, the transition has been so distressing that she reportedly expressed a desire to have died in the attack rather than endure the harsh realities of her new incarceration.
Civilian casualties from the strikes have also come to light, with the BBC verifying at least seven deaths, including that of a five-year-old boy struck by debris. The ramifications of the airstrikes continue to ripple through the community, as families grieve and human rights groups urge for accountability and improved conditions for all detainees.
The plight of these prisoners remains largely hidden and underreported, despite the evident need for international attention and action to protect the rights of those detained amid conflicts.
