Exclusive: A Number of Ordinary Prisoners Attack Political Prisoners in Evin

On Friday, March 15, a number of ordinary prisoners in Evin prison attacked several political prisoners and reported that they were beaten. Reports received by the Persian section of Voice of America indicate that for about a year, prison guards have been using some ordinary prisoners, including the lawyer of Ward 4 and his deputy, to report on political prisoners or to beat them. According to these reports, in the incident on Friday, the attackers did not use knives or clubs as in the past, but instead attacked political prisoners with their fists, causing bruising and contusions to several political prisoners. The attackers, while insulting the political prisoners, referred to them as terrorists. A family member of a political prisoner told Voice of America that unlike last October when agents directly participated in attacks on political prisoners, the prison management has been trying to prevent demands or protests from political prisoners by using some ordinary prisoners in 'Ward 4, Hall 3'. Reports indicate that the attackers, who are chosen from among supporters of the regime, intend to implement the goals of the prison guards and the head of Evin prison in their dealings with political prisoners and suppress them. They even report the singing or talking of political prisoners to the guards. According to information received by Voice of America, the prison management takes care of them, and they enjoy many privileges. Additionally, another reason for the treatment of political prisoners, which in the past led to their exile to other prisons, is financial exploitation. Information received by Voice of America indicates that regime-affiliated prisoners try to make the rooms belonging to political prisoners non-political and earn income this way. In this context, sometimes a bed in prison is bought and sold for 3 million tomans through these prisoners. Regarding the transfer of political prisoners to other prisons, one can refer to mid-September of this year when, according to a knowledgeable source in a conversation with Voice of America, around 12 political prisoners in Evin, including those in wards six and eight, were transferred to Qazal-Hesar prison. This knowledgeable source stated that the reason for their transfer was to support the nationwide protests on the anniversary of that event. The nationwide protests last year in Iran began following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.