A Prisoner in Qazalhasar Karaj Transferred to Solitary Confinement After Protesting Prison Conditions in Video

According to the news agency HRANA, the news organ of human rights activists in Iran, on Wednesday, June 9, it was reported that Reza Khazaei, a prisoner held in Qazalhasar prison in Karaj, was transferred to solitary confinement following his protest against the poor conditions of the prison in a video released from inside the prison. HRANA reported that this prisoner had protested among a group of inmates against the numerous executions, the poor conditions of the prison, and the violent and abusive behavior of the guards towards the prisoners. According to the report, Reza Khazaei, who is serving a 30-year sentence due to drug-related charges in Qazalhasar prison, was 'beaten and transferred to solitary confinement in unit two of this prison.' In a video that was shared on social media, several prisoners supported his statements. The protesting prisoners, gathered in unit one of hall seven of Qazalhasar prison, stated that with the increase in the number of executions, 'between 10 to 20' prisoners are taken 'from here and killed' every week, and they are subjected to 'disgraceful insults' and 'are not allowed to live.' In response to this group testimony, the public relations office of the Islamic Republic's prison organization referred to them as 'a group of convicts related to drug offenses' and claimed that, 'like all prisons,' these prisoners enjoy 'the necessary standards and welfare' based on the 'classification principle' of prisoners. Such claims have been repeatedly rejected based on reports published by human rights organizations and media. These organizations, as well as many released prisoners, have emphasized that Iranian prisons lack the necessary standards. Despite restrictions on the presence of free media and international human rights organizations in Iran, Reporters Without Borders recently described the conditions of the women's special prison in Shahr-e-Rey (Qarchak) as 'inhuman and deplorable' based on letters from Narges Mohammadi and Aliyeh Matlabi, calling for 'serious action' to 'investigate the disastrous health and hygiene conditions' in this prison.