Iran’s Judiciary Upholds Harsh Sentences for Evin Prison Fire Defendants Amidst Grave Human Rights Violations
In a closed appeals session on Wednesday November 20, 2024, Iran’s judiciary upheld the sentences of 40 prisoners accused of involvement in the October 2022 fire at Evin Prison. These individuals, informed only through their lawyers, now face additional prison terms, lashes, and fines. The verdicts, initially issued on June 18, 2024, were imposed without due process, drawing widespread condemnation.
Confirmed Sentences for Political Prisoners
The judiciary also finalized sentences for four political prisoners accused in connection with the fire. Sentences include:
- Loqman Aminpour: Eight years and eight months, plus 148 lashes.
- Meysam Dehban Zadeh: Eight years and eight months, plus 148 lashes.
- Majid Roshan Nejad: Eight years and eight months, plus 148 lashes.
- Reza Salman Zadeh: Seven years, plus 74 lashes.
Reports indicate these sentences were handed down at the request of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, without summoning the defendants or allowing their attorneys to present defenses.
Trial and Procedural Violations
The appeals court confirmed these rulings without notifying the defendants or permitting their legal representatives to present arguments. The original trial, held in June 2024 in Branch 1148 of Criminal Court 2, was marred by irregularities:
- Defense rights denied: Defense lawyer Ramin Safarnia was expelled from the courtroom, and defendants were silenced.
- Expedited verdicts: Sentences were finalized within 24 hours.
- No evidence presented: The judiciary claims the defendants caused damages totaling 310 billion rials (~$740,000 USD) but has provided no substantiating evidence.
Background on the Evin Prison Fire
On October 15, 2022, a fire engulfed parts of Evin Prison amid nationwide protests in Iran. Security forces launched a violent crackdown on inmates, killing at least nine and injuring over 100. Judicial authorities subsequently accused inmates of inciting the fire, targeting 40 prisoners from Ward 7 and four political prisoners from Ward 8.
Profiles of Key Defendants
- Loqman Aminpour: Convicted on charges of “destruction of public property” (six years in prison and 74 lashes), “disturbing prison order” (16 months and 74 lashes), and “disobedience to officials” (16 months), totaling eight years and eight months in prison. Aminpour is currently serving his sentence in Ghezel Hesar Prison. Previously, he was sentenced to 10 years on charges of “assembly and collusion” and “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).”
- Meysam Dehban Zadeh: Similarly sentenced to six years and 74 lashes for “destruction of public property,” 16 months and 74 lashes for “disturbing prison order,” and 16 months for “disobedience to officials,” resulting in a total of eight years and eight months. In 2023, he was also sentenced to six years for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security” in “relation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran” and “forming a group to disrupt national security.”
- Majid Roshan Nejad: Received the same sentence as Aminpour and Dehban Zadeh, amounting to eight years and eight months in prison. Roshan Nejad is detained in Tehran’s Great Prison. Previously imprisoned for online activities critical of the government, he sustained a gunshot wound during the Evin fire and endured months of pain without medical treatment due to deliberate neglect by prison authorities.
- Reza Salman Zadeh: Sentenced to five years and 74 lashes for “destruction of public property,” one year for “disturbing prison order,” and one year for “disobedience to officials,” totaling seven years.
This case underscores broader patterns of systemic repression and punitive measures targeting political prisoners in Iran. Harsh sentences are routinely issued following trials lacking transparency and adherence to international legal standards.
Urgent Call for International Action
Iran HRM urges the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran to dispatch an international fact-finding mission. Immediate inspection of Iran’s prisons and direct engagement with detainees, particularly political prisoners, are essential to address these gross human rights violations.
The international community must hold Iran accountable for its blatant disregard for fundamental human rights.
