EVIN PRISON: Delving into Iran's Notorious Institution

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Evin Prison, located on the outskirts of Tehran, the capital of Iran, is a name that strikes fear and curiosity into the hearts and minds of many. Infamous for its harsh conditions and human rights violations, Evin Prison is a symbol of the broader issues surrounding justice, freedom, and governance in Iran. 

In this blog post, we will delve into the history, conditions, and the international outcry surrounding Evin Prison.

The Evin Prison Complex sprawled out on the side of the Alborz mountains. 

THE HISTORY OF EVIN PRISON

Evin Prison has a long and complex history dating back to its establishment in 1972 under the Shah of Iran's regime, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Initially built to house political prisoners, the prison quickly became a symbol of state repression and torture. However, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Evin Prison's role and the composition of its inmates underwent significant changes.

It is located at the base of the Alborz mountains, in the former home of Ziaeddin Tabatabaee, who served briefly as Prime Minister in the 1920s. The prison is surrounded by a residential and commercial area, also called Evin, next to the Sa'adat Abad district. In close proximity, one finds  a park, a kindergarten, restaurants and several stores. In stark contrast, within its confines, Evin Prison encompasses a labyrinthine complex, featuring multiple distinct sections, each assigned a specific role and detainee classification.

These sections include the Women's Ward, Ward 209 (known for its political detainees), and various sections for criminals. There is also an execution yard and a courtroom. Originally it was made to house just 320 detainees. However, in 1977 it was changed to hold more than 1,500 prisoners. It was expanded from 20 solitary cells and 2 large communal blocks, to over 100 solitary cells for political prisoners. 

The new government repurposed the prison to detain not only political dissidents but also various individuals accused of crimes against the Islamic Republic, including journalists, activists, and religious minorities. The prison was expanded to hold 15,000 prisoners. Initially, they wanted to keep Evin as a detention centre for criminals awaiting trial. However, in reality, it served as a normal prison with the majority of the inmates serving all of their sentences in the same complex. Executions were also commonplace at the Evin Prison. 

CONDITIONS INSIDE THE PRISON

The conditions inside Evin Prison have been the subject of extensive scrutiny and controversy for decades. Detainees, including political prisoners and individuals charged with various offenses, often face harsh conditions to spend their sentences in, such as: 

  • Overcrowding: Evin Prison has long suffered from overcrowding, with many reports indicating that it houses far more inmates than it was designed to accommodate. This leads to cramped, unsanitary conditions that violate international human rights standards. 
  • Inhumane and filthy conditions: There are reports of bed bugs, cockroaches, rats and spoilt food being served to inmates. Prisoners can take a shower between one to three times per week, for ten minutes, and the toiletries provided are often not enough to get a proper wash. The prison issued clothes are not cleaned in a laundry, but prisoners often launder them at the same time as they have a shower. 
  • Torture and Mistreatment: Reports of torture and mistreatment within Evin Prison have persisted for years. Former detainees have described being subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, solitary confinement, and sleep deprivation. The use of torture to extract confessions or information has been widely condemned by international human rights organizations.
  • Lack of Medical Care: Detainees in Evin Prison often lack access to adequate medical care. Those with preexisting health conditions may see their health deteriorate due to insufficient medical attention. Medical check ups could even be denied as a form of punishment to get prisoners to confess or as a coercion method. 
  • Denial of Basic Rights: Political prisoners in Evin often face further indignities, such as being denied contact with family members or access to legal representation. This denial of basic rights and legal due process is a source of concern for international human rights advocates. This even extend to being denied consular help for foreign prisoners. 
A screenshot from an exclusive video provided to Radio Free Europe showing the cramped conditions in Evin Prison

WHITE TORTURE

The term "white torture" is often used to denote the use of silent solitary confinement in Iran. This term is used by intellectuals, writers, activists and detainees. This practice is widespread in all of Iran, used in Evin Prison as well as other secret detention centres. 

This harsh method of punishment is intended to compel prisoners to yield to various demands, such as providing scripted videotaped statements, signed confessions, or divulging information about their political affiliations and associates. Typically, prisoners endure these conditions in small, brightly lit, underground cells. They are provided with a thin blanket and an insect-infested pillow to sleep on, having to lie on the filthy, thin carpet on the floor of their cells. Often, this can be very uncomfortable and lead to back pain. The cells are illuminated 24 hours a day, and inmates often face restrictions on legal representation, visitation, medical care, and occasionally even access to food and water.

According to international law, extended periods of solitary confinement can be considered a form of torture. Numerous former inmates who shared their experiences with the UN Human Rights Watch emphasized that their time in solitary confinement had a more profound negative impact on their mental and emotional well-being than any physical or verbal abuse they endured. They expressed their fear of losing their sanity and the anxiety of enduring each day without human contact, which had the potential to break their resolve. 

In Iran, solitary confinement is employed as a means to suppress government critics, serving as a warning to discourage political dissent.

The effects of solitary confinement persist long after inmates' release. They may experience sleep disturbances, lingering feelings of isolation even in company, and short-term memory loss, a result of the extreme trauma the experience imposes on the mind.

THE WOMEN'S WARD

The Women's Ward at Evin Prison is a section that holds female inmates, and it is notorious for the harsh conditions faced by women, many of whom are detained for political activities or advocacy. Here, female detainees have reported abuse, mistreatment, and dire living conditions.

One of the most distressing aspects of the Women's Ward is the separation of mothers and children. Some women are imprisoned with their infants, while others are forced to part with their youngsters, causing immense emotional distress.

The Women's Ward is known for its overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. Inmates often share cramped cells with limited access to proper hygiene facilities, making it difficult to maintain their health and dignity. 

According to Roxana Saberi, a Iranian-American journalist who was arrested in January 2009 and sent to Evin, some of the female prisoners were confined to a small cell of about four meters by five meters. The cell had two small windows that were covered with metal. The inmates did not have any beds, or pillows, to sleep on. They had to roll up their measly blankets as pillows and use their chadors as bed sheets. Chadors are a large piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head and torso, leaving only the face exposed. Women must wear this in Evin Prison for modesty. 

Female detainees in Evin Prison have reported harassment, sexual abuse, and degrading treatment by prison staff. These allegations have raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of women in detention.

Roxana Saberi

ZAHRA KAZEMI

On 23 June 2003, Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was arrested for taking photographs in front of the prison. Several days after this, the media branded her as a "spy who came in the country disguised as a journalist." Nineteen days after her arrest, she died in hospital due to injuries to her head. 

The government said that she died from a stroke suffered during interrogations. However, doctors examining Kazemi's body found evidence of brutal rape, torture such as missing fingernails and two broken fingers, a skull fracture, abdominal bruising and a bruised shoulder, deep scratching on her neck and evidence of flogging on her legs. 

Zahra Kazemi died of injuries sustained at the hands of Evin interrogators 

THE 2022 FIRE

A fire erupted in Evin Prison on October 15, 2022, coinciding with ongoing protests in the country sparked by the Mahsa Amini case. Reports indicate clashes between guards and prisoners, marked by gunshots and confrontations. The Center for Human Rights in Iran confirmed the existence of a riot within the prison, and online videos corroborated this, showing smoke rising from the facility and capturing gunshots and anti-government chants.

Based on testimonies and evidence collected by Amnesty International from prisoners, their relatives, and human rights advocates, it appears that prison guards at Evin Prison deployed tear gas and metal pellets against hundreds of inmates. Inmates were subjected to severe beatings with batons, particularly targeting their heads and faces. Eyewitnesses also reported that guards aimed firearms at several female inmates and fired live ammunition at male prisoners.

Media outlets associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Islamic Republic government covered the prison conflict and fire. Near the prison, a gathering of prisoners' families and others prompted a response from government forces, who deployed tear gas.

The reported casualties include at least 8 deaths in the fire and 61 injuries. However, the families of prisoners suspect that the actual number of casualties is much higher.

Prison was on fire on October 15th, 2022. 

CALLS OF REFORMS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS 

The human rights abuses and harsh conditions within Evin Prison have not gone unnoticed by the international community. Numerous countries, human rights organizations, and advocates have condemned the treatment of prisoners within Evin and called for reform.

The United Nations has expressed deep concerns about the human rights situation in Iran and, specifically, within Evin Prison. The UN has called for independent investigations into allegations of torture and abuse.

Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have published detailed reports on the conditions within Evin Prison. These reports have highlighted the need for systemic reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of detainees.

DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE AND INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY

Many countries, particularly Western nations, have raised the issue of Evin Prison and human rights violations in Iran during diplomatic negotiations and in their foreign policy toward Iran.

Efforts to improve the conditions within Evin Prison and address the human rights abuses have faced significant challenges. The Iranian government has been resistant to external pressure and continues to deny allegations of mistreatment.

Activists, both within Iran and abroad, play a crucial role in shedding light on the plight of Evin Prison detainees and advocating for change. They often face personal risks to their safety and freedom for their activism.

In an era of information sharing, social media and citizen journalism have been instrumental in raising awareness of the conditions within Evin Prison. Images, videos, and firsthand accounts from former detainees have reached global audiences, creating international pressure for reform.

The international community, human rights organizations, and activists continue to call for accountability for those responsible for human rights violations within Evin Prison. They seek to ensure that perpetrators of abuse are held responsible for their actions.

Evin Prison 

CONCLUSION

Evin Prison remains a symbol of the challenges Iran faces in terms of human rights and justice. The prison's history, conditions, and the international outcry surrounding it underscore the need for urgent reforms within Iran's criminal justice system. The treatment of detainees within Evin Prison is a violation of their basic human rights and a source of concern for advocates around the world.

While the road to reform may be long and challenging, it is essential to continue shedding light on the conditions within Evin Prison and supporting the efforts of activists and organizations advocating for change. 

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