Prison Assault Aftermath in Iran: Official Count Reveals 71 Casualties
In the aftermath of the Israeli air force's bombing of Evin Prison in Tehran on June 23, 2025, the current status of the incarcerated individuals remains a matter of concern. The attack, which caused extensive damage to multiple prison buildings, including visitation halls, medical clinics, and areas housing many political prisoners and dissidents, has left at least 80 civilians dead, though the identities of the victims are not publicly known [1][2].
Following the attack, survivors were subjected to severe mistreatment by Iranian authorities, including beatings, insults, threats, forced transfers under harsh conditions, and involuntary disappearances. Death-row inmates and forcibly disappeared prisoners face heightened risks of torture or execution [3]. The Iranian authorities have not provided comprehensive information on the fate of all detainees, despite inquiries from human rights organizations [3].
Families of the incarcerated are actively seeking information, often without official responses. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have gathered witness testimonies and family accounts about prisoner conditions and mistreatment, calling for transparent investigations into both the Israeli strike and subsequent Iranian abuses. Amnesty's campaign urges public support through letters to advocate for displaced prisoners facing cruel and inhuman conditions following the attack [2][3].
Approximately 600 prisoners have recently been returned to the prison despite damage, intensifying concerns over their safety and living conditions [4]. Little information has been released about the extent of the damage in Evin Prison since the bombing.
Evin Prison in northern Tehran is notorious for the mistreatment and torture of political prisoners and protesters. Iranian activists and former inmates have criticized the attack, stating it endangered the lives of political prisoners. The bombing was a symbolic strike against Iran's government, according to Israel.
The conflict between Iran and Israel has reportedly resulted in over 620 deaths on the Iranian side, according to official Iranian figures. However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported nearly 1,200 deaths, citing informants and publicly available sources. Explosions hit the prosecutor's office, the medical area, and the visitor's hall in Evin Prison.
State prosecutor Ali Ghanatkar, who was involved in the conviction of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, is among the reported dead [5]. Many soldiers and lawyers were present in the visitor's hall during the bombing. Several Europeans are also being held in Evin Prison.
In a planned tour of the prison for journalists, initially canceled, select media were later allowed access. Inmates have reportedly been transferred to other prisons, where conditions are said to be worse than in Evin Prison. The fate of the inmates in Evin Prison remains unclear.
[1] Amnesty International. (2025). Evin Prison bombing: Iran must ensure safety of prisoners and provide information on their fate. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/06/evin-prison-bombing-iran-must-ensure-safety-of-prisoners-and-provide-information-on-their-fate/
[2] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Iran: Evin Prison Bombing; Urgent Need for Transparency. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/25/iran-evin-prison-bombing-urgent-need-transparency
[3] HRANA. (2025). Evin Prison Bombing: Families Demand Information About Missing Prisoners. [online] Available at: https://hrana.ir/en/post/37220
[4] Reuters. (2025). Iran moves hundreds of prisoners back to Evin jail after bombing. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-moves-hundreds-prisoners-back-evin-jail-after-bombing-2025-06-28/
[5] Al Jazeera. (2025). Iran: State prosecutor Ali Ghanatkar among dead in Evin Prison bombing. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/24/iran-state-prosecutor-ali-ghanatkar-among-dead-in-evin-prison-bombing
- The attack on Evin Prison in Tehran, a well-known hub for political prisoners and protesters, has fueled concerns about the welfare of incarcerated individuals amidst war-and-conflicts, prompting human rights organizations to call for transparent investigations and public support.
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, following the Israeli air force's bombing of Evin Prison, have gathered witness testimonies and family accounts about the mistreatment and fate of prisoners, highlighting the intersection between politics, general-news, and the human rights issues that persist in the aftermath of the attack.
