Latest news with #EvinPrison
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘A new wave of repression': fears for Iran's political prisoners after Israel war
Life for Reza Khandan has only got worse since Tehran's Evin prison, where he was an inmate, was hit by an Israeli airstrike on 23 June. The next night, the 60-year-old human rights activist – who was arrested in 2024 for his support of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement – was moved to another jail in the south of the capital, where he has told family conditions are hard to endure. 'My father and others do not have beds and are forced to sleep on the floor. He once found six or seven bedbugs in his blanket when he woke up,' said his daughter Mehraveh Khandan, who described 'horrific' sanitary conditions in the prison. Families of political prisoners in Iran say conditions have worsened since the end of the 12-day war and that they fear vulnerable detainees will bear the brunt of what activists say is a broader crackdown by the Iranian authorities, whose legitimacy was shaken by Israel's campaign. The fighting began on 13 June with a barrage of hundreds of Israeli airstrikes that Israel said were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran quickly responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones. The air war brought in the US and continued until both sides agreed a ceasefire. An unknown number of prisoners were moved by the Iranian authorities to other detention facilities in the aftermath of Israel's strike on Evin, which killed 71 people, including some in the jail and others in its vicinity. The whereabouts of many is unknown but those who have been in contact with relatives have said their new jails are even worse than Evin, which was notorious for the torture of political detainees. Mehraveh, who is based in Amsterdam, said: 'The only cooking water available to prisoners was salty until Sunday. [And] in recent days we have witnessed the disappearance of several prisoners who were already facing the death penalty or long sentences.' Many families have not heard from their loved ones, as long queues have formed for the few phones in detention facilities. Asso Azizi, whose sister Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish aid worker, is on death row, said he had not heard from her in two days. She and other women were transferred to Qarchak prison, which is described as overcrowded and unsanitary. 'Unfortunately, they were not even able to take their personal and sanitary items with them,' Asso said. Besides the unsanitary conditions, Asso is terrified that the authorities may expedite his sister's death sentence, which she was handed in July 2024 'solely in relation to her peaceful humanitarian and human rights activities', according to Amnesty International. The Iranian authorities charged her with armed rebellion against the state. 'There is a concern that just as the process of dealing with her case was very hasty and fast, confirming this sentence in only three days, that now they will execute this sentence to create terror among the people,' Asso said. As conditions worsen in prison, activists and residents of Tehran have also described a wave of repression as the country reels from the war. Security forces have set up checkpoints across the country, stopping pedestrians and checking their mobile phones, sometimes detaining people based on their online activity. The security crackdown comes as the Iranian authorities grapple with the extensive Israeli intelligence penetration of its forces and a wave of online criticism. According to Iranian state media, 700 people have been arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel during the 12-day war. The New-York based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has said hundreds more were arrested in Tehran and six people were executed on espionage charges. Iran's parliament is considering a bill that allows for broader use of the death penalty for those who are accused of collaborating with foreign powers, with judicial authorities specifically referencing espionage with Israel. Hadi Ghaemi, the CHRI's executive director, said: 'Iranian authorities are locking people up incommunicado without cause or access to a lawyer, and sending them to the gallows on 'national security' charges in order to terrorise the public and re-establish control.' The Iranian prison system is murky, particularly for political prisoners. The legal system is plagued with secret trials and allegations of torture. Tracking detainees through the labyrinthine Iranian security apparatus is often a challenge. For families of Iranian political prisoners, the days ahead will be filled with fear. Mehraveh said: 'It is clear that a new wave of intense repression has begun, more severe than ever before. We are deeply concerned.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘A new wave of repression': fears for Iran's political prisoners after Israel war
Life for Reza Khandan has only got worse since Tehran's Evin prison, where he was an inmate, was hit by an Israeli airstrike on 23 June. The next night, the 60-year-old human rights activist – who was arrested in 2024 for his support of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement – was moved to another jail in the south of the capital, where he has told family conditions are hard to endure. 'My father and others do not have beds and are forced to sleep on the floor. He once found six or seven bedbugs in his blanket when he woke up,' said his daughter Mehraveh Khandan, who described 'horrific' sanitary conditions in the prison. Families of political prisoners in Iran say conditions have worsened since the end of the 12-day war and that they fear vulnerable detainees will bear the brunt of what activists say is a broader crackdown by the Iranian authorities, whose legitimacy was shaken by Israel's campaign. The fighting began on 13 June with a barrage of hundreds of Israeli airstrikes that Israel said were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran quickly responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones. The air war brought in the US and continued until both sides agreed a ceasefire. An unknown number of prisoners were moved by the Iranian authorities to other detention facilities in the aftermath of Israel's strike on Evin, which killed 71 people, including some in the jail and others in its vicinity. The whereabouts of many is unknown but those who have been in contact with relatives have said their new jails are even worse than Evin, which was notorious for the torture of political detainees. Mehraveh, who is based in Amsterdam, said: 'The only cooking water available to prisoners was salty until Sunday. [And] in recent days we have witnessed the disappearance of several prisoners who were already facing the death penalty or long sentences.' Many families have not heard from their loved ones, as long queues have formed for the few phones in detention facilities. Asso Azizi, whose sister Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish aid worker, is on death row, said he had not heard from her in two days. She and other women were transferred to Qarchak prison, which is described as overcrowded and unsanitary. 'Unfortunately, they were not even able to take their personal and sanitary items with them,' Asso said. Besides the unsanitary conditions, Asso is terrified that the authorities may expedite his sister's death sentence, which she was handed in July 2024 'solely in relation to her peaceful humanitarian and human rights activities', according to Amnesty International. The Iranian authorities charged her with armed rebellion against the state. 'There is a concern that just as the process of dealing with her case was very hasty and fast, confirming this sentence in only three days, that now they will execute this sentence to create terror among the people,' Asso said. As conditions worsen in prison, activists and residents of Tehran have also described a wave of repression as the country reels from the war. Security forces have set up checkpoints across the country, stopping pedestrians and checking their mobile phones, sometimes detaining people based on their online activity. The security crackdown comes as the Iranian authorities grapple with the extensive Israeli intelligence penetration of its forces and a wave of online criticism. According to Iranian state media, 700 people have been arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel during the 12-day war. The New-York based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has said hundreds more were arrested in Tehran and six people were executed on espionage charges. Iran's parliament is considering a bill that allows for broader use of the death penalty for those who are accused of collaborating with foreign powers, with judicial authorities specifically referencing espionage with Israel. Hadi Ghaemi, the CHRI's executive director, said: 'Iranian authorities are locking people up incommunicado without cause or access to a lawyer, and sending them to the gallows on 'national security' charges in order to terrorise the public and re-establish control.' The Iranian prison system is murky, particularly for political prisoners. The legal system is plagued with secret trials and allegations of torture. Tracking detainees through the labyrinthine Iranian security apparatus is often a challenge. For families of Iranian political prisoners, the days ahead will be filled with fear. Mehraveh said: 'It is clear that a new wave of intense repression has begun, more severe than ever before. We are deeply concerned.'
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert on the bombing of Iran's Evin prison
Israel recently bombed the gates of Iran's notorious Evin prison, a place that Dr Kylie Moore Gilbert came to know all too well. The political scientist and author was imprisoned in Iran for 804 days and eventually released in a prisoner swap in November 2020. In this chat with Matt Bevan, Kylie talks about solitary confinement, Iranian cheetahs, how her first cellmate was a spy, and why the regime is cracking down on dissidents right now. Follow If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app. Check out our series on YouTube:
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- Politics
- UAE Moments
Iran Says 71 Killed After Israeli Airstrike Hits Evin Prison
Iran has reported that 71 people were killed after an Israeli airstrike hit Evin prison, a high-security facility in Tehran known for detaining political prisoners and dissidents. The bombing took place on Monday, during the final days of Israel's aerial campaign against Iran. The death toll was confirmed by judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir, nearly a week after the strike. The list of victims reportedly includes prison employees, conscripts, families of inmates, and even nearby residents. According to Iran's judiciary news agency, Mizan, several parts of the prison compound were destroyed in the attack. These include the medical centre, engineering and visitors' buildings, and the prosecutor's office. One of the most prominent casualties was Ali Ghanaatkar, a senior prosecutor known for handling high-profile cases against regime critics, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi. His death was confirmed earlier, with a large funeral held in Tehran for him and dozens of other victims. Israel Targets Regime Sites, Rights Groups Raise Concerns While Israel has not commented directly on the Evin prison strike, it has said its recent operations targeted ' regime-related sites.' The attack marks a shift in strategy, moving beyond military and nuclear facilities to hit locations symbolically tied to Iran's leadership. Human rights groups have condemned the strike, citing the principle of distinction in armed conflict. They argue that hitting a site housing civilians, visitors, and foreign nationals violates international humanitarian law. Foreign Nationals Among Prisoners Evin prison is known to house several foreign detainees, including French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held since 2022. In response to the airstrike, France's foreign minister called the bombing ' unacceptable.' Background on Evin Prison Founded in 1972 under Iran's former Shah, Evin spans around five hectares in northern Tehran. Over the years, it has become Iran's central detention facility for political cases, hosting journalists, activists, academics, and foreign nationals accused of espionage. After the 1979 revolution, it became infamous for holding thousands of regime opponents, with multiple human rights reports alleging mistreatment and abuse inside its walls. What Happens Next Iran has called the attack a violation of international and humanitarian law, and it is likely to add further tension to an already volatile situation in the region. As the country buries its dead and assesses the damage, the strike on Evin may become a flashpoint in future debates over civilian protections during wartime.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Aftermath of Israel's deadly attack on Evin Prison in Tehran
Aftermath of Israel's deadly attack on Evin Prison in Tehran NewsFeed Video shows the aftermath of a deadly Israeli strike on Evin Prison in Tehran, that killed at least 71 people, including visiting women and children. The prison, known for holding political prisoners, was hit just a day before a ceasefire ended 12 days of fighting initiated by Israeli strikes. Video Duration 01 minutes 17 seconds 01:17 Video Duration 02 minutes 38 seconds 02:38 Video Duration 02 minutes 36 seconds 02:36 Video Duration 01 minutes 57 seconds 01:57 Video Duration 00 minutes 48 seconds 00:48 Video Duration 02 minutes 38 seconds 02:38 Video Duration 01 minutes 13 seconds 01:13
