Human rights concerns in Iranian prisons

Reports indicate a severe deterioration of conditions across several Iranian prison facilities, including Dashtgard, Evin, Greater Tehran, and Gorgan.

Initial reports focused on Dashtgard Prison in Isfahan, where overcrowding was noted as extreme, with an estimated 10,000 inmates in a facility designed for 4,000 to 5,000. This led to prisoners sleeping on floors and facing shortages of food, medical services, and ventilation. Concerns were also raised regarding the use of physical abuse and psychological pressure to extract confessions, particularly from political and security prisoners.

Subsequent reports expanded these concerns to other facilities. In Evin Prison, inmates faced temperatures exceeding 40°C, bedbug infestations, and viral outbreaks. In Greater Tehran, overcrowding forced prisoners into hallways, contributing to the spread of skin and fungal infections. Other systemic issues reported include poor water quality, corruption, and the mixing of political prisoners with general criminals. Individual cases, such as those of Masoumeh Azhini and Masoumeh Sarbanzadeh, highlight ongoing judicial pressures and the denial of legal rights and medical care.