
Iran: 27 inmates are still at large following Israeli airstrike
The airstrikes were part of Israel's 12-day bombardment of Iran that killed about 1,100 people, while 28 were left dead in Israel in Iranian retaliatory strikes.
Judiciary's news website, Mizanonline, quoted spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying 75 prisoners had escaped following the strike, of which 48 were either recaptured or voluntarily returned. He said authorities will detain the others if they don't hand themselves over.
Jahangir said the escapees were prisoners doing time for minor offenses.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 prisoners were being held at the time in the prison.
Iranian officials said the Israeli strike killed 71 people, but local media reported earlier in July that 80 were left dead at the time, including prison staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members. Authorities also said five inmates died.
It's unclear why Israel targeted the prison.
The New York-based Center for Human Rights had criticized Israel for striking the prison, saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets.
Amnesty International, an international nongovernmental organization that campaigns to protect human rights, called the Israeli attack 'deliberate' and 'a serious violation of international humanitarian law.'
The air strikes should therefore be 'criminally investigated as war crimes,' it said.
'The Israeli military carried out multiple air strikes on Evin prison, killing and injuring scores of civilians and causing extensive damage and destruction in at least six locations across the prison complex,' Amnesty said, basing its assessment on what it said were verified video footage, satellite images and witness statements.
There was nothing to suggest that Evin prison could justifiably be seen as a 'legal military objective,' it said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
12 minutes ago
- Arab News
Five killed in courthouse attack in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, Iranian media report
An armed attack by the Sunni Jaish Al-Adl Baluch group on a courthouse in Iran's restive southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province killed at least five people and injured 13, Iranian media reported. Three assailants were also killed in the ensuing clashes with security forces, a senior police official told the state news agency IRNA. He said a mother and child were among those killed by the gunmen who threw a hand grenade into the building in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan. In a statement posted on its Telegram account, Jaish Al-Adl took responsibility for the attack and urged 'all civilians to immediately evacuate the area of clashes for their safety.' The Baluch human rights group HAALVSH, quoting eyewitnesses, said several judiciary staff members and security personnel were killed or wounded when the assailants stormed the judges' chambers. Sistan-Baluchestan province, near the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan, is home to Iran's Sunni Muslim Baluch minority, who have long complained of economic marginalization and political exclusion. The province frequently sees clashes between security forces and armed groups, including Sunni militants and separatists who say they are fighting for greater rights and autonomy. The Iranian government accuses some of them of ties to foreign powers and involvement in cross-border smuggling and insurgency.


Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Israeli military says ‘projectile' fired at Israel from Gaza Strip
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said a 'projectile' was fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Saturday. 'A projectile was identified crossing the Gaza Strip from the south and most likely falling in an open area,' the military said in a statement, adding that there were no injuries reported.


Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Breaking: Israeli military says ‘projectile' fired at Israel from Gaza Strip
The Israeli military said a 'projectile' was fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on Saturday. 'A projectile was identified crossing the Gaza Strip from the south and most likely falling in an open area,' the military said in a statement, adding that there were no injuries reported. Developing