Iran's Ovin Women's Prison Bars Face-to-Face Visits for Political Detainees

On 28 July (28 Tir), authorities at Ovin women's prison in Iran announced that political detainees will no longer be allowed in‑person visits with their families; all meetings will be conducted in a cabin setting. Ordinary female inmates retained the right to face‑to‑face visits.

The restriction follows heightened tensions after the transfer of around 40 women political prisoners from Qarchak prison to Ovin on 21 July, which increased overcrowding and sparked protests among inmates. Prison officials cited the recent unrest in the women's wing as the reason for the new visitation rule, though they have not issued a formal disciplinary order or clarified the legal basis for the measure.