Evin Prison Through Time

On Sunday, Mehr News Agency published a photographic report on Evin Prison, highlighting the entertainment facilities available to prisoners, such as a swimming pool, sauna, music classes, and an amphitheater. Despite these amenities, most prisoners are often confined to their rooms, occasionally walking in the yard, with smoking being their only solace. Radio Farda began a conversation with Reza Alijani, a political activist and analyst who has spent years in Evin Prison, asking about his experiences and observations there. Alijani stated that he was in Evin's general ward in the 1980s, but in the following decades, he was in solitary confinement or in section 2A. He noted that the political atmosphere in the 1980s was tense, characterized by violence and hatred between prisoners and guards, with overcrowded conditions where at least ten to fifteen people lived in a room. He recounted living in a 15-square-meter room with 34 people. The facilities were minimal, and communication with the outside world was limited. After the reformist period and the subsequent executions and releases post-1988, Evin Prison's image gradually changed, becoming more focused on ordinary and financial prisoners. Financial prisoners contributed to improving prison conditions by bringing in their own amenities. Alijani mentioned that the food situation has improved compared to the past, with better quality meals available. However, he expressed skepticism about the claims of music education and university studies being genuinely accessible within the prison. He emphasized that the political atmosphere, especially for political prisoners, remains a significant issue. He described Evin as a place that, if viewed from the outside, could seem like a pleasant resort, but the reality is shaped by the relationships and the oppressive environment within. Although conditions have improved since the 1980s, instances of torture and long-term solitary confinement still exist. Alijani concluded that the main injustice lies in the illegal nature of imprisonments and sentences, which fundamentally shapes the prison's character.