Sunday, 14 June 2015
With a capacity now detaining 15,000 people, (click here) the Evin Prison has built a reputation of being Iran’s most notorious prison.
Located in northwestern Tehran, the facility has been nicknamed “Evin University” due to the large number of intellectuals, political prisoners, journalists and academics that have been incarcerated there.
It was the subject of the 2014 film “Rose Water,” written and directed by U.S. TV personality Jon Stewart, which told the story of an Iranian-Canadian journalist who was detained after covering the protests that broke following the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Maziar Bahari survived 118 days in detention and was released after a confession he said was extracted after days of physical and psychological torture.
Bahari’s account mirrors that of human rights organizations which attribute the prison’s notoriety to the brutality of the guards.
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, a prominent opposition group based in Paris, describes it as “hell on earth.”
The first prisoners entered Evin in 1971 under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi....
There is no doubt that Evin Prison in Iran is where political prisoners are held. But, that has been the case since the previous dictator ruled Iran.
April 22, 2014
By Shadi Paveh
There is no doubt that Evin Prison in Iran is where political prisoners are held. But, that has been the case since the previous dictator ruled Iran.
April 22, 2014
By Shadi Paveh
...Iranian security forces, (click here) in anti-riot gear and using metal batons, beat political prisoners for approximately five hours on in Ward 350 of Evin prison, according to HRANA News Agency.
About 100 Iranian security servicemen stormed the prison on April 17, 2014, they said "for inspection."
The prisoners, apparently fearing that their few belongings would be confiscated, as before, asked that their possessions -- acquired with difficulty and at high prices, given the prison restrictions -- be inspected in their presence.
The security men then turned on them, seriously injuring dozens. Reportedly more than 30 prisoners were injured, and at least four had to be transferred to a hospital outside the prison -- a rare event, as medical aid is vehemently withheld from prisoners....
06 May 2014
06 May 2014
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (click here) has released its weekly report on the human rights situation in the country. Several of the stories demonstrate the persistent sensitivity of both the regime and its opponents to the April 17 raid on ward 350 of Evin Prison.
The chain of events following the violent crackdown has reached into other prisons. In an editorial published last week by The Diplomat, British Member of Parliament Lord Carlile argues that the heroic defiance of political prisoners even in the face of such violence represents “the bright spot in Iran’s latest political repression.” The NCRI report contributes to that interpretation of events by showing that that defiance is persistent.
Six political prisoners began a hunger strike on Sunday in Karaj Rajaee Shahr Prison as an expression of support for the political prisoners who were targeted in the Evin raid. They were joined by 12 fellow inmates on Monday. The hunger strike seeks to bring attention to the events surrounding the raid, and to encourage the international community to put pressure on the Iranian regime to address prisoners’ complaints, return victims of the raid from solitary confinement, and grant them access to medical care and visitations....
