Increased Restrictions on Female Prisoners in Evin Following Protests Against Body Searches

The news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, HRANA, reported on Sunday that in the women's section of Evin Prison, "group restrictions and deprivations" have been imposed on some prisoners. These measures include deprivation of visits and telephone contact, primarily following protests by a number of female prisoners against "unconventional body searches of prisoners" in Evin. A group of political and ideological female prisoners in Evin issued a joint statement on October 7, demanding the "cessation and investigation of sexual harassment of several prisoners during body searches." A family member of the prisoners stated, "Recently, some prisoners were told that the imposed restrictions included in-person visits, while they still had the option for cabin visits with their families. However, today, after families arrived at the prison, these prisoners and their families were not allowed to meet." According to HRANA, some prisoners are also facing additional restrictions regarding their prison phone accounts, limiting the number of contacts they can communicate with to the bare minimum. This is while, according to the Criminal Procedure Code and the regulations of the Iranian Prison Organization and Correctional and Educational Measures, prisoners in Iran have the right to meet with their families and benefit from telephone contact during their imprisonment.