Tehran: One month after Israeli air strikes targeted a notorious Iranian prison during the ongoing conflict between the two nations, former inmates report enduring unbearable and inhumane conditions after being relocated to different facilities. Despite assurances from Iranian authorities, those transferred from Evin Prison in Tehran face challenges such as overcrowding, insufficient beds and air conditioning, inadequate sanitation facilities, and insect infestations.
According to BBC, family members of prisoners relocated from Evin shared their experiences on the condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions for themselves and their loved ones. Verified videos and satellite imagery confirm significant damage to several structures within the prison complex, including the medical clinic, visitor center, prosecutor’s office, and administrative buildings.
The Israeli military justified the attack on Evin Prison, describing it as a “symbol of oppression for the Iranian people.” The military stated that the strikes were conducted in a “precise manner to mitigate harm to civilians” imprisoned there. Iran, however, has condemned the attack as a “war crime.”
On June 23, Israel targeted Evin, resulting in the deaths of 80 individuals, including prisoners, prison staff, and military conscripts, as reported by Iranian authorities. Evin held numerous political dissidents, human rights activists, journalists, and members of religious and ethnic minorities. Following the attack, all inmates were relocated to other prisons.
Reports from family members indicate that conditions at the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, also known as Fashafouyeh Prison, are dire. A political prisoner transferred there described the facility as remote and dangerous, preventing his wife from visiting. Overcrowding, lack of air conditioning, and inadequate conditions prevail despite authorities’ promises of improvement.
A verified video from inside Fashafouyeh reveals overcrowded cells with prisoners sleeping on the floor. Attempts by authorities to portray better conditions were thwarted by prisoners chanting anti-government slogans, according to family sources. Political prisoners are reportedly housed alongside those convicted of violent crimes, a practice condemned by rights groups as intimidation and in violation of United Nations rules on inmate treatment.
Human Rights Watch has accused Iranian authorities of employing torture, indefinite detention, and denial of medical care, allegations Iran denies. Evin has long faced criticism from human rights organizations for alleged torture and threats, while conditions at Fashafouyeh have been “underreported,” prisoners told the BBC.
Prominent journalist Mehdi Mahmoodian, transferred from Evin to Fashafouyeh, highlighted the neglect faced by non-political prisoners in a published letter. Fariba Kamalabadi, a 62-year-old Bahai detainee moved to Qarchak Prison, expressed a preference for death over enduring the harsh conditions of her new location.
Iran’s Bahai community, systematically discriminated against and persecuted, faces additional challenges in detention. Kamalabadi’s daughter, Alhan Taefi, reported overcrowded conditions at Qarchak, where detainees struggle for basic amenities.
The BBC has reached out to the Iranian embassy in London for comments on the conditions faced by prisoners transferred from Evin.
In the aftermath of the strikes, the BBC verified the deaths of seven civilians linked to the attack, including a five-year-old boy. Among them was Mehrangiz Imenpour, a 61-year-old painter, who was killed by the explosion’s impact while near the prison. Her family emphasizes the civilian toll of the conflict, calling for accountability from both states involved.
Additional reporting by Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC Verify