Two more prisoners died of Covid-19 in the Greater Tehran Penitentiary (GTP) .Their names are Mehdi Rabe’i and Lashkari Panah.
With the two victims, the number of prisoners died of Covid-19 in this facility has reached eight since the outbreak.
Hygiene conditions in the prison wards are reported as atrocious. Each room has a high number of prisoners cramped inside and many don’t even have a bed to sleep on, forced to lay down and rest on dirty floors.
The only detergent available for the prisoners is dishwashing liquid.
Despite the coronavirus starting to spread in the prison, authorities and officials have to this day remained silent on this subject and refusing to provide any report on the status of ordinary and political prisoners. As a result, the lives of many inmates in this prison are in grave danger.
Reports from Tehran indicate inmates of Ward 5 launched a riot on March 27, protesting the spread of COVID-19 in the facility, a number of inmates dying to this illness and several others being infected.
Following this riot, prison guards and special anti-riot units attacked the wards, throwing out the prisoners’ belongings under the pretext of periodic inspections. Authorities have also banned all contact between the prisoners and their family members, and reports indicate the inmates are under intense pressure.
All prison guards and authorities are on full alert and forces stationed at military bases near this facility are also on high alert and ordered to be ready to confront a possible riot. In fear of another riot, the regime handed over the security of the prison to the IRGC forces.
In addition to the GTP, many prisoners in various prisons across Iran including Ghezel Hesar, Evin, Urmia, etc., have contracted Coronavirus and some have died. These prisons house inmates several times their capacity and lack the minimum health facilities.
