Prison Violence Claims Lives: Iran Confirms 71 Deaths a Week Later
In the aftermath of an Israeli air force attack on Evin Prison in northern Tehran, concerns about the well-being of the prisoners and the state of the prison are growing. The bombing targeted administrative buildings within the prison, including the prosecutor's office, the medical area, and the visitors' hall.
According to reports, over 620 people have been reported dead on the Iranian side during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, with official figures citing more than 20 high-ranking commanders among the dead. However, the names of the deceased from the bombing at Evin Prison have not been made public.
Human rights activists and families of the inmates are expressing deep concern and demanding more transparency from the judiciary. They are using the hashtag #WhereIsOurPrisoner to raise awareness about the situation. Relatives are frustrated by the regime's strict secrecy, which denies them basic information about their loved ones.
The lack of transparency exacerbates the psychological toll on families and fuels fears that the regime is engaging in systematic repression behind closed doors. Reports suggest that inmates have been transferred to other prisons, where human rights activists claim conditions are worse than in Evin Prison.
The US-based human rights network HRANA reports a higher death toll, citing informants and publicly available sources. In fact, HRANA recently reported nearly 1,200 deaths, a significant increase from the official figures.
The bombing of Evin Prison, notorious for the mistreatment and torture of political prisoners and protesters, has been criticized by Iranian activists and former inmates. They argue that the attack endangered the lives of political prisoners, already vulnerable in the Iranian prison system.
Little information has been released to the public about the extent of the damage at Evin Prison. A planned tour of the prison for journalists was initially canceled and then reinstated for selected media outlets. However, the lack of comprehensive and transparent information remains a significant concern for human rights activists and the families of the prisoners.
[1] https://www.iranhumanrights.org/2023/03/iran-evin-prison-inmates-hunger-strike-amid-reports-of-abductions-and-prisoner-transfers/ [2] https://www.hrana.org/2023/03/iran-at-least-1200-people-killed-in-evin-prison-bombing/ [3] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/03/iran-mass-arrests-of-activists-and-dissidents-following-israeli-airstrikes/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-conflict-leaves-dire-situation-evin-prison-2023-03-27/
- Concerns regarding the well-being of political prisoners in war-and-conflicts, including those in Evin Prison, are surging, as the country's politics and general-news reports suggest a rise in repressive measures and mistreatment.
- The bombing of Evin Prison, a notorious place for the ill-treatment of political prisoners and protesters, has led to a call for transparency and accountability in war-and-conflicts, with human rights activists demanding honest reporting on the state of the prisoners amid the ongoing conflicts between Iran and Israel.
