Warnings About 'Systematic Abuse of Prisoners' in Karaj and Mashhad Prisons

Human rights sources have warned about the state of human rights violations by the Prison Organization in the provinces of Alborz and Razavi Khorasan, emphasizing the 'systematic abuse of prisoners' by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. A human rights source reported that, according to the families of several political prisoners, 1,700 prisoners are being forcibly transferred to Qazalhesar prison due to the destruction of the barrier wall between Karaj Central Prison and Qazalhesar. According to the families of political prisoners, despite the 'very high density of prisoners' in Qazalhesar prison, officials of the Alborz Prison Organization are 'forcibly transferring 1,700 prisoners' from other prisons to this location. The legal advisory group Dadban reported on Tuesday, January 1, quoting the families of political prisoners, that the severe overcrowding in this facility, with many prisoners sleeping on the floor, violates one of the fundamental principles of preserving human dignity and the basic rights of prisoners, which is recognized in the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, namely keeping prisoners in accordance with prison capacity and especially separating prisoners based on the type of crime committed. Failure to comply with this is a clear violation of prisoners' basic rights. Furthermore, Asghar Sepehri, a civil activist whose family members Fatemeh and Mohammad Hossein Sepehri are political prisoners in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad, revealed that 'simultaneously with the fall of Bashar al-Assad, all sections of the women's ward in Vakilabad prison were locked at the order of the prison judge, Navid Tabatabai, and the head of Mashhad Central Prison, Hadi Ismailzadegan.' He questioned whether this decision is a sign of the authorities' fear of a similar fate in Iran that has led them to impose such restrictions. He added, 'Prisoners now need a guard to go to the store, the infirmary, or other sections of the prison. These restrictions are clearly an attempt to increase isolation and undermine the morale of prisoners.' According to Mr. Sepehri, 'Outdoor time is only once a day and must be with the presence of a guard. With the release of other prisoners from Ward 5, my sister is now completely isolated in this ward. This forced isolation, especially given her heart condition, severely threatens her health. She has requested that if other prisoners are transferred to her ward, they should be political prisoners, not those convicted of non-political crimes.' Currently, prisoners of various crimes are held in Qazalhesar prison, and previous reports have indicated widespread human rights violations in this prison. According to a previous exclusive report from Qazalhesar prison provided to Voice of America, judicial officials in this prison, in addition to widespread violations of prisoners' right to medical treatment under the pretext of 'lack of budget,' sometimes obtain written consent from them to 'waive treatment.' Additionally, a source from Qazalhesar prison in recent weeks told Voice of America that several prisoners held in this prison are infected with the HIV virus, but officials keep this issue confidential and keep these individuals among other prisoners without special care. Previously, Voice of America sources in Qazalhesar prison had revealed widespread violations of prisoners' rights and unprovoked abuse by prison officials against them. Recently, the U.S. Treasury and State Departments announced that they have sanctioned Qazalhesar prison. Political prisoners protested the forced evacuation of Unit 4 of Qazalhesar prison in Karaj. A research report from HRA: At least 883 people were executed in Iran in 2024. Execution of 5 more prisoners in Iran; a condemned prisoner committed suicide. The campaign 'Tuesdays No to Execution': Turning Qazalhesar Prison into a slaughterhouse. Qazalhesar prison in Karaj has been sanctioned by the United States. At least 6 people were executed in Qazalhesar by the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic.