Iranian authorities have imposed a three-week ban on family visits for 21 female political prisoners detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison. This decision, announced on November 26, 2024, by prison head Hedayat Farzadi, follows accusations of “disturbing prison order.” The charges stem from the prisoners’ participation in a ceremony marking the November 2019 uprising and their vocal opposition to executions, actions deemed unacceptable by the prison’s disciplinary committee.
Crackdown on Protest Against Executions
The incident occurred as part of a broader campaign within the prison against the death penalty, known as “No to Executions Tuesdays.” During the protest, the women reportedly chanted slogans condemning Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the regime’s use of executions to suppress dissent.
This latest action follows a pattern of punitive measures targeting Evin’s female political prisoners for protesting state policies and executions.
Previous Reprisals Against Female Prisoners
The prison’s harsh response mirrors earlier incidents of repression. In August 2024, 17 women were barred from phone calls and family visits for up to three months after staging protests against the execution of Reza Rasaie and the death sentence of Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi. Similarly, authorities have repeatedly targeted the women of Evin Prison for their continued activism, using isolation tactics to curb their resistance.
The November 2019 Uprising
The November 2019 uprising, sparked by sudden increases in fuel prices, became a nationwide movement against economic hardship and authoritarian governance. Security forces violently suppressed the protests, killing over 1,500 protesters and arresting thousands. The uprising remains a powerful symbol of resistance, and its commemoration by political prisoners is a defiant act of solidarity with the victims and their families.
