HRANA– Manouchehr Bakhtiari, a political prisoner held in Choobindar Prison in Qazvin, has been on hunger strike since Monday, June 30, in protest of being denied medical furlough and mistreatment by prison officials.
Sara Abbasi, Bakhtiari’s wife, announced in a public statement that he has been on hunger strike for five days, protesting the denial of furlough and the inappropriate treatment he has received from prison authorities. She also reported that her husband, despite his poor physical condition, was humiliated by a prison guard who, under the pretext of taking him to the infirmary, stripped and insulted him in front of other inmates. However, he was never actually taken to the infirmary.
Bakhtiari suffers from prostate issues and a hernia. Despite a medical examiner’s approval for surgery, prison officials have repeatedly denied him medical furlough using various pretexts.
Bakhtiari’s initial arrest occurred on April 29, 2021, when he was taken by security forces from his home in Tehran. The Revolutionary Court subsequently sentenced him to three years and six months in prison, with an additional two years and six months of exile and a two-year travel ban, starting in July 2021.
On November 1, 2023, while still serving his sentence, Bakhtiari received a six-month prison term for “insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran,” a conviction that was confirmedon appeal.
Furthermore, in January of this year, Judge Seyyed Mousavi Asef-Al-Hosseini of Branch 1 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court delivereda significant ruling against Bakhtiari. He was sentenced to ten years for “assembly and collusion to act against national security, and for forming and running groups on the Internet to disturb national security.” Additionally, Bakhtiari received five years for “collaboration with anti-regime groups,” two years for “propaganda against the regime and disturbing public opinions,” and one year plus 74 lashes for “disseminating false information.” However, the Appellate Court later overturned these convictions and remanded the case back to the court for further review.
In a tragic and related turn of events, Bakhtiari’s son, Pouya, at the age of 27, was fatally shot by regime forces during the 2019 protests, also known as the Aban Protests, in Karaj. According to his sister and mother, Pouya succumbed to his injuries in the hospital after being shot in the head during the second day of the protest’s eruption.
HRANA – Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, a detainee from the 2022 nationwide protests currently held in Urmia Prison, has been sentenced to death by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court.
His attorney, Othman Mozayan, told HRANA: “The verdict was issued by Branch 1 of the Urmia Revolutionary Court. Yesterday, a notice was sent to the legal team for the formal delivery and transcription of the ruling. It is still unclear which specific security-related charge the death sentence is based on.”
Beigzadeh Babamiri’s indictment had previously listed multiple charges, including moharebeh (enmity against God), baghi (armed rebellion), assembly and collusion against national security, financing terrorism, propaganda against the regime, espionage, and collaboration with hostile governments. Other allegations included possession of a Starlink device, unlawful possession of weapons, membership in banned groups, and orchestrating an assassination. His case had been referred to both the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts by Branch 10 of the Urmia Prosecutor’s Office.
Beigzadeh Babamiri, a farmer from Bukan, was arrested in April 2023 in connection with the 2022 protests. After four months in the custody of security agencies, he was transferred to Urmia Prison.
HRANA – Over a month after their arrests, nine followers of the “Yamani” religious movement remain in pre-trial detention at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. The detainees include Emad Eftetahi, Amin Akbari, Seyed Yahya Tarrahomi, Ghasem Hatami, Alireza Salim Kaviani, Sajjad Rezvan, Mohammad Kazem Fathi, Mohammad Hossein Nazarnajad, and one unidentified individual.
They were among 19 “Yamani” adherents detained in Mashhad. According to relatives, the arrests were made without official warrants and in violation of legal procedures.
In Iran, individuals are frequently detained for espousing spiritual or messianic beliefs, especially those claiming a connection to the Shi’a Mahdi. The “Yamani” movement, led by Ahmad al-Hasan Yamani, centers its teachings on Mahdism.
Iran’s security agencies—particularly the Ministry of Intelligence—operate dedicated units to suppress religious, spiritual, and ideological groups that fall outside the bounds of the state-sanctioned doctrine.
HRANA – Milad Karimi-Nasab and Mahdi Karami, two residents of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, were arrested by security forces on June 11 and June 18, respectively. Days after their arrests, their whereabouts and current condition remain unknown, heightening concerns among their families and loved ones.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, both men were detained in separate incidents by unidentified security forces. No official information has been released regarding the reasons for their arrests, the charges they may face, or the authority responsible for their detention.
Milad Karimi-Nasab is a resident of Charam County, while Mahdi Karami lives in the town of Suq, in Kohgiluyeh County. The lack of transparency and communication from authorities has left their families in a state of distress.
HRANA News Agency – On June 23, Israeli military strikes targeted multiple locations in Tehran, including Evin Prison, which sustained several direct hits. A week after the attack, the fate of prisoners held in the facility’s high-security wards remains unknown, fueling growing alarm among their families.
On June 29, without addressing the condition or whereabouts of these detainees, the judiciary spokesperson announced that at least 71 people were killed in the attacks. HRANA has so far verified the identities of 47 of the deceased.
Following the strike, approximately 120 political prisoners were transferred from Evin to other prisons in Tehran Province. However, no information has emerged regarding those held in the prison’s high-security sections—Ward 209 (The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility), Ward 2-A (IRGC Intelligence detention facility), and units operated by the Judiciary’s security apparatus. Neither government officials nor state-affiliated media have offered any transparent updates, intensifying the anxiety of families.
Human rights organizations have little to no information about the identities and status of detainees in these high-security wards, where the total population is estimated to exceed 300. These wards operate outside the oversight of Iran’s prison organization, and the lack of accessible records has made it nearly impossible to trace the fate of those detained there.
Footage released by judiciary-affiliated media shows extensive damage to Ward 209 but provides no details regarding its detainees.
Most post-strike reports have focused on the prison’s general wards. According to accounts from those areas, heavily armed special forces stormed the prison in the early hours following the attack. Using force, they removed political prisoners without explaining the reason or destination. Detainees were violently and inhumanely restrained—handcuffed, shackled, and marched into the prison yard in groups—before being loaded onto buses, some of which were damaged and barely operable due to the blasts. As the sounds of missile strikes and air defense continued, prisoners were held for hours under the sun before being transferred under tight security later that night to Greater Tehran Prison. Several detainees likened the transfer to being used as “human shields.”
Beyond structural damage, the attack on Evin Prison resulted in the deaths of multiple inmates and staff. The judiciary spokesperson confirmed that at least 71 people were killed but did not disclose the number of wounded. Among the dead, he said, were prison personnel, military conscripts, detainees, and civilians—family members who had come to visit or follow up on cases at the Evin courthouse.
Below is a list of 47 individuals confirmed dead by HRANA so far:
Evin Prison Staff:
1. Ali Ghanatkar, head of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office and Deputy Security Prosecutor of Tehran;
2. Davood Shirvani Boroujeni, a prison physician;
3. Atefeh Ba’ajzadeh, a counselor and social worker;
4, 5. Zahra Ebadi, an employee of the Evin Prosecutor’s Office enforcement division, along with her 9-year-old child.
Fourteen additional staff members whose identities have been verified include:
6. Mehrad Kheiri
7. Vahid Vahidpour
8. Hassan Shojaei
9. Bahareh Lotfi
10. Hamid Saeedi
11. Hassan Salehi
12. Hassan Nazari Kalur
13. Hossein Ali Ahmadi
14. Rouhollah Tavassoli
15. Pourandokht Sa’adatnejad
16. Mohammad Mir
17. Akram Mohammad Salimi
18. Mahnaz Khosh Kerdar
19. Zohrehsadat (surname unknown).
Other confirmed fatalities whose identities have been verified by HRANA, but whose classifications (such as prisoner, staff member, conscript, or visitor) are still under investigation:
Hajar Mohammadi, the niece of Azizollah Mohammadi, former head of Iran’s Soccer Premier League Organization, and Mehrangiz Imanpour, a painter and former wife of Reza Khandan Mahabadi, a member of the Iranian Writers Association, were also killed.
Mr. Khandan Mahabadi stated: “On Tuesday, June 23, Mehrangiz left her home on Evin Street for a walk. About 40 minutes later, she died in the explosion caused by the attack on Evin Prison. When she didn’t return, we assumed she was injured and began searching for her. Despite visiting several hospitals, we received no information. Other families were also searching for their loved ones. Eventually, on Tuesday, June 24, we discovered at Behesht Zahra Cemetery and the Kahrizak Forensic Center that Mehrangiz had died.”
Read HRANA’s report on the plight of prisoners transferred to other prisons here.
HRANA News Agency – Following the mass transfer of political and security prisoners from Evin Prison to facilities such as Qarchak Varamin, the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, and Ghezel Hesar in Karaj, reports indicate that these relocations were conducted without regard for fundamental standards — including separation based on offense type, adequate living conditions, access to basic services, and the right to contact family members. These abrupt and forced transfers were made without transparent communication from the responsible authorities, sparking serious concern among the prisoners’ families.
A photo showing damage to Ward 209, the bakery, and the medical clinic at Evin Prison.
In addition to causing infrastructural damage, the attack on Evin Prison has led to psychological distress and serious concerns for the families of prisoners. As of the time of this report, officials have not provided clear information about the status and conditions of the transferred prisoners.
Overcrowding
According to information obtained by HRANA, following the mass transfer of male political prisoners from Evin Prison, more than 70 individuals were relocated to Quarantine Unit 3 at Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. These prisoners are enduring severe shortages of basic necessities and face tight restrictions on communicating with their families.
Female political prisoners who were abruptly and forcibly transferred to Qarchak Varamin Prison were initially confined in a cramped, unsanitary quarantine ward. They were later moved to a gymnasium lacking even the most basic facilities, including beds, and equipped with only a few restrooms. Eventually, they were returned to the quarantine ward, where they continue to be held in conditions that disregard crime-based classification and fail to meet minimum living standards.
At Greater Tehran Prison, inmates housed in Halls 3 and 4 of Ward 2 are being held in rooms that far exceed their intended capacity of 20 people. This extreme overcrowding has led to widespread floor-sleeping, heightened tensions among inmates, and a serious deterioration in sanitary conditions.
Poor Sanitation and Living Conditions
Sanitary conditions in Qarchak and Greater Tehran prisons have been reported as extremely poor. A family member of one of the women transferred to Qarchak told HRANA that in the prison’s gym and quarantine ward, there are only two toilets and one shower for dozens of inmates. The quarantine space is very small and unhygienic, and in the hot summer weather, access to outdoor areas is practically impossible. Reports speak of infestations of insects and pests such as mice, and even snakes in prisoners’ sleeping quarters.
According to HRANA, similar conditions exist in Greater Tehran Prison, where 70 to 80 inmates must share one toilet, one sink, and one shower. This lack of sanitary facilities significantly raises the risk of infectious and skin diseases, endangering prisoners’ health.
Limited Access to Food and Drinking Water
The food and clean water situation in Qarchak and Greater Tehran prisons is described as critical. In Qarchak, the tap water is salty and contaminated, making it undrinkable, and many prisoners must pay for bottled water. The prison has only one central kitchen that provides low-quality, insufficient food. Dinner is distributed at 4 p.m., and prisoners are forced to eat cold, tasteless meals at any later time. There is a fast food outlet in the prison, but prices are high and unaffordable for most inmates.
In Greater Tehran Penitentiary, the increase in prisoner numbers has seriously disrupted food distribution. According to a prisoner’s family, some inmates receive meals late or receive incomplete portions. Drinking water is also undrinkable due to its poor quality and high salinity, with no suitable alternatives available. Combined with the lack of hygiene facilities, this has created serious physical problems for prisoners.
Lack of Medical Services
Female prisoners in Qarchak and many of the inmates transferred to Greater Tehran Prison have been denied access to medical services. According to a relative of one prisoner, Qarchak provides no medical care or basic health facilities for women, who are held in security conditions without sanitary support. Greater Tehran Prison faces similar issues; for example, Morteza Seydi, who was injured during the Israeli airstrike, has been denied even the most basic treatment despite having a severe hand infection.
Restricted Contact with Families
Prisoners transferred to Qarchak and Ghezel Hesar are facing severe restrictions on contact with their families. At Qarchak, political prisoners held in the quarantine ward have been almost completely cut off from the outside world. According to a relative of one incarcerated woman, phone calls were still prohibited as of yesterday, with only a single malfunctioning phone available—enabling some prisoners to place short calls lasting just two to five minutes. Meanwhile, political and security detainees sent to Ghezel Hesar are being held under strict security conditions and have been entirely denied access to phone communication with their families.
On social media, relatives and friends of political prisoners transferred to Greater Tehran and Qarchak prisons have shared posts raising concerns about their conditions. Keyvan Mohtadi stated that his wife Anisha Asadollahi, along with Raheleh Rahemipour and Kobra Beiki, were transferred to Qarchak. He reported a lack of basic facilities, overcrowding, and that prisoners’ belongings were left behind in Evin. He emphasized that the situation is even harder for elderly inmates like Rahemipour and Beiki.
A social media page associated with Varisheh Moradi expressed concern about her health in Qarchak, stating that the transfer has disrupted access to medical care for ill prisoners.
Another page associated with Mostafa Mehraeen, who was arrested on June 15, reported that he was transferred to Greater Tehran Penitentiary but remains in solitary confinement and has so far had only one brief phone call with his family.
It is important to note that on Monday, June 23, amid Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, Evin Prison was directly hit. Multiple sections of the facility were damaged, including the main entrance gate, the on-site courthouse, the medical clinic, Ward 209, the bakery, and the visitation hall. The attack resulted in the death or injury of several conscripted soldiers, while dozens of prison staff and inmate laborers—some of whom were gardening at the time—were also reported wounded. In the aftermath, the Prisons Organization announced the transfer of Evin’s inmates to various detention facilities across Tehran Province.
HRANA News Agency – Following Israeli airstrikes on June 23 that directly targeted Evin Prison, Iranian authorities have initiated the mass transfer of inmates to other prisons across Tehran Province. Most political prisoners from Ward 4 of Evin have been moved to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, where they now face harsh and deteriorating conditions, including extreme overcrowding, lack of access to clean drinking water, and the absence of separation between inmates by the nature of their charges.
A source close to Taher Naghavi reported that he is being held in a hall with at least 120 inmates—despite the space being designed for no more than 40 people—and is not separated from those convicted of non-political offenses.
Additional reports highlight the facility’s inadequate water supply. Inmates have described the available water as too salty to drink. According to a source close to Morteza Parvin, he and Mahmoud Ojaghlou were moved late Monday night without being allowed to bring any of their personal belongings.
Family members have also confirmed these developments. Ahmad Ghadiani and Alireza Bakhtiar, sons of Abolfazl Ghadiani and Mohammad Bagher Bakhtiar, respectively, shared on social media that their fathers had been transferred. Alireza noted that many inmates now sleep on the floor and that only one bottle of mineral water is provided for every four political prisoners.
Fatemeh Alvandi, the mother of Mehdi Mahmoudian, told Emtedad News Agency that the detention conditions are extremely poor. She reported overcrowded quarters, unsanitary facilities, and a lack of basic necessities. According to her, her son and others lacked even food containers upon arrival, and the lack of hygiene products is now threatening inmates’ health.
Abbas Shanbehzadeh confirmed that his brother, Hossein, was also among those moved from Ward 4 of Evin to the Greater Tehran Penitentiary.
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, has expressed concern about the treatment of these transferred inmates. She also noted receiving reports of arbitrary arrests and expedited trials lacking due process, particularly since the onset of the Israeli strikes.
The June 23 airstrikes struck Evin’s entrance gate and the judiciary building within the prison compound. Several conscripted soldiers were reportedly killed or injured, along with some prison staff and inmate workers who were gardening at the time. Following the attack, Iran’s Prisons Organization confirmed the transfer of Evin inmates to other facilities in the province.
HRANA News Agency — On June 23, during airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force on Tehran, Evin Prison was directly targeted. The attack took place during family visitation hours, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several administrative staff, conscripted soldiers, and prison personnel. Significant damage was also inflicted on key prison infrastructure, including the administrative building, entrance gate, infirmary, central kitchen, and visitation hall.
According to HRANA, the extent of the destruction has forced the evacuation of the prison. Beyond the immediate casualties and physical destruction, the assault has triggered a humanitarian and psychological crisis for the families of the prisoners. At the time of this report, calls for the immediate release of political prisoners and for transparent information about the fate and whereabouts of those transferred remain unanswered.
Destruction and Damage
Reports from various sources, including eyewitness accounts, indicate widespread destruction in several parts of the prison:
● The entrance gate, the court building, and the prison infirmary were completely destroyed.
● The visitation hall and central kitchen were also destroyed during the attack.
● Windows in Ward 4 and the women’s ward were shattered, and parts of their walls collapsed.
● The prison infirmary sustained serious damage, disrupting medical services.
● According to an official report by Fars News Agency, Dr. Seyed Davood Shirvani Boroujeni, one of the prison’s infirmary doctors, was killed in the attack.
Security Situation and Reactions
Following the attack, a state of emergency was declared at the prison:
● Telephone lines in most wards were cut or limited.
● Visitations and outdoor time for prisoners were suspended.
● The judiciary spokesperson confirmed the attack occurred during visitation and stated that some staff and family members were also casualties.
● Official reports stated that bomb disposal teams successfully neutralized two unexploded missiles in the prison area.
Prisoner Transfers and Family Concerns
In response to the extensive destruction, the Prisons Organization initiated the emergency relocation of inmates to other facilities within Tehran Province, including Greater Tehran Prison and Qarchak Prison in Varamin. According to the organization, the transfers began in the early hours following the strike and have since been completed. However, many families report being left in the dark about the exact whereabouts of their loved ones.
In an open letter, one political prisoner described the ordeal as “the worst day of my life,” adding: “Evin Prison essentially ceased functioning. The longstanding desire of the security apparatus to evacuate Evin was realized through Israeli missiles.” The prisoner also highlighted a more than 24-hour communication blackout with the women’s ward, confirming that inmates from Wards 4 and 8 were transferred to Greater Tehran Prison, while female prisoners were moved to Qarchak. The absence of official documentation and continued lack of contact have fueled severe anxiety and uncertainty among the prisoners’ families.
Doctor’s Death and Official Visit to the Injured
Following the attack, Abbas Masjedi, head of the National Forensic Medicine Organization, visited the wounded. At the same time, it was announced that Dr. Davood Shirvani Boroujeni, a member of the prison’s medical staff, was killed during the attack.
Human Rights Implications
Evin Prison, with its long-standing history of holding political and ideological prisoners, has long been a focus of human rights scrutiny. The direct attack on the facility — especially at a time when many of its inmates were financial offenders or low-risk prisoners — has sparked serious concerns over violations of human rights standards and the laws of war. According to witness accounts, several conscripted soldiers, guards, and even staff family members were killed in the strike. One witness described the scene: “All the conscripts at the gate were completely obliterated… and we, the prisoners and their families, were hugging them.”
HRANA News Agency – During today’s Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, Evin Prison was directly targeted. According to received reports, the prison’s main entrance gate and the judiciary building located within its compound were struck. Several conscript soldiers were reportedly killed or injured in the attack. Additionally, some prison staff and several inmates assigned to service duties, who were gardening at the time, were wounded.
HRANA’s reports indicate that windows in various parts of the prison — including Ward 4 — were shattered, though no serious structural damage has been reported so far. In the women’s ward, a section of the ceiling partially collapsed, though the damage is described as minor. The prison’s main infirmary and parts of the visiting hall also sustained damage, though no injuries have yet been reported in these areas.
A brother of a sick inmate told HRANA: “With the infirmary at Evin damaged, my sister cannot receive the critical medical care she requires. Given the lack of transparency from official sources and widespread distrust of the authorities’ assurances, we — the families of sick prisoners — are experiencing heightened anxiety and emotional strain.”
Following the strike, phone lines have been disconnected in most wards and restricted in others. All visits have been suspended until further notice. Outdoor time for inmates has been canceled, and doors to multiple wards have been locked. This report pertains to the prison’s general population; no information is currently available regarding the condition of the security wards, including Ward 209, Ward 2-A, and the Judiciary Protection Unit.
The attack has sparked widespread concern among inmates and their families. Although the majority of Evin’s current population consists of financial prisoners, due to its historical role in Iran’s political landscape, the prison has long remained a focal point for public attention and human rights oversight.
HRANA News Agency – Bijan Kazemi, a resident of Kuhdasht, remains in limbo in Evin Prison more than four months after his arrest.
Kazemi has been in detention for over four months and remains in an uncertain state. A source informed HRANA that Kazemi has been denied visitation rights and access to his lawyer. No legal proceedings have taken place regarding his case thus far.
Bijan Kazemi was transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, on January 22, 2025. He was initially arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents in Kuhdasht, Lorestan province, on January 19, 2025.
As of the time of this report, the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him remain unknown.
Kazemi has previously faced legal action due to his activism.
