The head of Iran's Prison Organization and Security and Educational Measures stated that the number of prisoners in Iran has increased by approximately 333% from 1985 to 2016, with currently 64% of prisoners being married. According to Tasnim News Agency, Asghar Jahangiri said on Tuesday, May 22, that Iran ranks second among Islamic countries and sixth among Asian countries in terms of prisoner population. He announced Iran's global ranking as forty-first, adding that the prisoner population per 100,000 people in Asia is 174 and globally it is 168, while in Iran it is 283 per 100,000. Official statistics show that, for example, in Denmark there are 61 prisoners per 100,000, in the United States nearly 700, in Japan 49, in South Africa 292, in Switzerland 84, and in Malaysia 161. A significant percentage of prisoners in Iran are young people, many of whom have committed crimes related to drug trafficking or theft. Jahangiri also mentioned that '64% of prisoners in Iran are married and 70% are under 40 years of age.' He added that the prison population does not align with Iran's overall population and that 'our prisons do not have the capacity to accommodate this number of prisoners.' He stated that 'the capacity of our prisons is 88,000, but we currently have 223,000 prisoners, meaning we have more than 2.5 times the density.' Jahangiri noted that 'in 1979, with a population of 37 million, we had 8,557 prisoners, and in 2016, with a population of 78 million, there were 223,000 in prisons.' He indicated that 'although the country's population has increased by about 66% from 1985 to 2016, the number of prisoners has grown by 333%.' In another part of his remarks, he stated that 'we face multiple managerial, structural, and procedural problems in prisons.' He mentioned that 'sometimes individuals are sentenced to longer imprisonment than their actual sentences, which creates issues.' Jahangiri had previously reported that the total number of prisoners in the country exceeded 200,000 and that Iranian prisons currently hold three times their capacity. Iranian officials have long implemented various programs aimed at reducing the prison population, which have not been very successful. Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, the strategic deputy of the judiciary, announced in 2014 that Iran, with over 200,000 prisoners, is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of prisoner statistics. In May of last year, Hamid Reza Tabatabai Naeini, a member of parliament in the ninth term, also reported the number of prisoners in Iran to be over 200,000.
333% Increase in Prison Population in Iran Over 30 Years
Iran's prison population has surged by 333% over the past 30 years, with significant overcrowding and a high percentage of young, married inmates. The head of the Prison Organization highlighted the mismatch between prison capacity and the number of inmates, raising concerns about the justice system's management. This issue reflects broader societal challenges and the effectiveness of government policies.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iran's prison population has increased by 333% over the past 30 years, leading to severe overcrowding and management issues within the prison system. Currently, there are 223,000 prisoners in facilities designed for only 88,000.
- 64% of prisoners are married and 70% are under 40 years of age.
- Iran ranks second among Islamic countries and sixth in Asia for its prison population.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has seen a dramatic rise in its prison population over the last three decades, often linked to strict drug laws and socio-economic issues. This situation poses significant challenges for the government in terms of prison management and human rights.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%