Human Rights Organization: Pressures on Prisoners in Urmia Central Prison Continue

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported on the "continuation of harassment and abuse of prisoners in Urmia Central Prison by prison officials and security forces" and wrote that on Sunday, March 4, "two ordinary crime prisoners were transferred to the prison's secure ward after being tortured, and at the same time, dormitory 1-2 was inspected, and many personal belongings of the prisoners were destroyed." This human rights organization stated that these pressures began after more than 800 prisoners in Urmia Central Prison published a letter demanding the resignation of Payman Khanzadeh, the head of the prison. Accordingly, several family members of political prisoners in Urmia Central Prison reported to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network an increase in pressure and threats against this group of prisoners. These families also stated that "despite several political prisoners being in critical physical condition, by order of security agencies and the prison chief, they have been deprived of access to medical services, leave, and parole." On March 1, coinciding with an attack by prison guard forces, two Kurdish prisoners also attempted self-immolation and suffered burns on their legs. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network noted that during this attack, at least five political and ideological prisoners were injured in the head. The suicides of prisoners in this prison are an ongoing issue that has drawn various reactions. The U.S. Treasury Department announced in October 2020 that Urmia Prison, along with Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, and Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, were sanctioned by Washington. Mistreatment of prisoners in the Islamic Republic's prisons has always drawn severe criticism from activists and human rights organizations in Iran and around the world.