New Report on 'Inhumane' Conditions in Women's Ward of Evin Prison

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has released a new report describing the conditions of at least 25 political prisoners in the women's ward of Evin Prison as 'illegal' and 'inhumane,' citing 'mistreatment' by prison guards. The report emphasizes that the treatment of these women prisoners not only contradicts Iran's international commitments but also violates the domestic laws of the Islamic Republic. Most of the women imprisoned in Evin were transferred to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and Qarchak Prison in Varamin in July 2012, and currently, only between 20 to 30 political and ideological women prisoners are held in the women's ward of Evin. The women's ward is under the authority and supervision of Iran's judiciary, headed by Sadegh Amoli Larijani. According to testimonies from prisoners included in the report, they have repeatedly reported the conditions inside the ward to the Iranian judiciary, but the judiciary has 'taken no action.' Since 2005, none of the UN agencies or other international monitoring organizations have been allowed to visit the women's ward of Evin Prison—or any other ward in Evin. The conditions in the women's ward of Evin have previously drawn protests from other organizations, such as the Human Rights Defenders Center. The new report states that 'political prisoners held in the women's ward of Evin are regularly deprived of access to medical care, face restrictions or deprivation for visits with their children, even young children, are denied phone contact with their families, and lack sufficient and proper nutrition.' Current and former residents of the women's ward describe it as cramped, almost windowless, cold, and dirty. The report's section titled 'Main Findings' states that 'the prison food rations lack sufficient nutritional value' and 'the prison healthcare lacks medical specialists and sometimes provides incorrect or ineffective medications to patients.' The report also notes that 'there are no phones in this ward' and 'at times during the winter, prisoners have been deprived of heating' and 'prisoners are frequently subjected to body searches.' According to the report, journalists, activists, artists, Baha'is, Christian converts, Kurdish activists, Sunni Muslims, and members of alternative mystical groups, along with women alleged to be supporters of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, are held in this ward. Sentences for these women range from one to twenty years, and the report states that they have been imprisoned for 'crimes' such as protesting the death penalty, advocating for women's rights, expressing their criticisms of government policies on social media, believing in the Baha'i faith, and defending other political prisoners behind bars. The International Campaign for Human Rights calls for the Iranian judiciary, which oversees prisons in Iran, to immediately review the cases of these prisoners and address the 'illegal' conditions in the women's ward. In this context, the Human Rights Defenders Center has expressed concern about the situation of sick prisoners. Faezeh Hashemi: The remarks of a representative who visited Evin contained lies and delusions. Complaints from prisoners about Evin Prison, praise from a member of parliament for 'Hotel Evin.' 'Transfer of political women prisoners to the methadone quarantine of the women's ward of Evin.' Changing the playing field of 'proxy wars'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalization of Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis.