A Humanitarian Catastrophe Under the Clerical Regime
Introduction:
Qezel-Hesar Prison in Karaj is one of the largest and most notorious prisons in Iran, where the conditions starkly violate international human rights laws and standards. Located adjacent to the Central Karaj Prison, it was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of State in December 2024 due to widespread human rights violations, torture, inhumane punishments, and atrocities committed within. This report, based on reliable human rights sources, examines the catastrophic conditions at Qezel-Hesar Prison. The report is divided into several sections, with the first section addressing the following topics:
- Location and structure of Qezel-Hesar Prison
- Historical background and transformations over time
- Overcrowding and frequent prisoner relocations
- Dire conditions of food and water
- Catastrophic healthcare and sanitation situation
- Spread of corruption and drug abuse within the prison
- Torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners
1. Location and Structure of Qezel-Hesar Prison
Qezel-Hesar Prison is in Alborz Province, near Karaj, and operates under the jurisdiction of the Tehran Province Prison Organization. Established in 1964, the prison has become infamous for its severe lack of facilities, catastrophic sanitary conditions, and extreme overcrowding. The prison consists of four large units, each containing between 8 and 12 words. Each warehouse holds between 400 and 600 prisoners, many of whom, particularly those suffering from illnesses such as HIV or drug addiction, lack access to medical care. The absence of proper ventilation and sanitation creates an intolerable environment for detainees.
Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Iran has ratified, Article 10 mandates that “all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.” The violations observed in Qezel-Hesar Prison starkly contradict this fundamental principle.
2. Historical Background of Qezel-Hesar Prison
Pahlavi Era (Before 1979)
During the Pahlavi era, Qezel-Hesar Prison was primarily used for detaining common criminals, including drug offenders and habitual offenders. Due to existing policies, political prisoners were predominantly held in other facilities such as Evin Prison, Qasr Prison, and the Joint Anti-Sabotage Committee under SAVAK’s control.
Post-1979 Revolution and the 1980s
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Qezel-Hesar Prison became one of the principal sites for incarcerating political dissidents. During the 1980s, the prison housed numerous political opponents, particularly members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the Fedayeen guerrillas. In the summer of 1988, Qezel-Hesar was among the prisons where the infamous “1988 Massacre” took place, during which thousands of political prisoners were executed after summary trials lasting only minutes, conducted by the so-called “Death Commission.”
1990s and 2000s – Surge in Drug-Related Incarcerations
During this period, Qezel-Hesar became one of the primary detention centers for drug-related offenses. Reports indicate that during these decades, the prison population exceeded 20,000 inmates, many of whom were on death row awaiting execution.
2010s to Present – Center for Executions and Torture
Qezel-Hesar Prison remains one of Iran’s leading execution sites, particularly for drug-related offenders and political prisoners. Numerous reports document systematic torture, inhumane conditions, severe overcrowding, lack of medical care, and the mass transfer of prisoners from other facilities to Qezel-Hesar.
Despite the fundamental principle of separation of prisoners based on the nature of their crimes, political detainees are regularly housed alongside violent offenders, exacerbating their already dire situation.
3. Overcrowding and Frequent Prisoner Relocations
In recent years, Qezel-Hesar Prison has faced an escalating humanitarian crisis. Following the transfer of over 1,200 inmates from Gohardasht Prison to Unit 3 of Qezel-Hesar in 2023, the prison population surged dramatically. Cells originally designed for 9 to 12 detainees now hold 15 to 20 prisoners. Many areas, including makeshift halls and so-called “Hosseiniyeh” warehouses, have been converted into sleeping quarters for inmates. Reports indicate that under these inhumane conditions, prisoners are often forced to sleep on the floor or in communal areas.
Credible sources suggest that authorities from the Iranian Prison Organization plan to relocate approximately 1,700 prisoners—most of whom are held in Unit 4—to other sections of Qezel-Hesar, with the intent of repurposing Unit 4 as part of the Central Prison of Alborz Province.
The chaotic nature of prisoner transfers has transformed Qezel-Hesar from a facility initially designated for drug-related offenders into a mixed facility housing political prisoners and inmates convicted of various crimes. This reality violates Iran’s own classification regulations, which mandate that financial criminals, murderers, thieves, and political prisoners should be held separately in distinct wards.
4. Dire Conditions of Water and Food in Qezel-Hesar Prison
One of the major issues in Qezel-Hesar Prison is the water crisis and frequent outages, which become especially problematic during the hot season, causing immense hardship for prisoners.
Inmates suffer greatly due to frequent water cuts, which are unbearable in extreme heat as air conditioners do not function. To secure water for hygiene, washing, and toilet use, prisoners are forced to buy bottled water at a price of 10,000 tomans per bottle. Due to the lack of water, sanitary facilities are extremely filthy and contaminated, leading to outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases and contagious skin infections among prisoners.
The quality of food in Qezel-Hesar Prison is extremely poor and does not meet the minimum standards of human rights. Prisoners in Unit 4 suffered mass food poisoning due to consuming contaminated dinner. The food distributed consisted of a mixture of water, crushed chicken, and potatoes, with a foul odor resembling sewage. As a result, 40 prisoners suffered food poisoning, yet despite the severity of their conditions, none were transferred to a hospital. Instead, treatment was limited to intravenous fluids and injections administered at the prison’s infirmary. Some prisoners who refused to eat the food had to endure hunger until morning.
According to Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Iran is a signatory, governments are obligated to ensure adequate living conditions, including access to clean water and food for prisoners. The failure to provide these essentials in Qezel-Hesar Prison constitutes a violation of this right.
5. Catastrophic Health and Hygiene Conditions and Deprivation of Medical Care
The healthcare and hygiene conditions in Qezel-Hesar Prison are catastrophically poor. Each warehouse has between 400 and 600 prisoners, many of whom suffer from various illnesses but have no access to medical services. In many cases, inmates are denied medical consultations.
In the four main wards of Qezel-Hesar Prison, only one doctor and one nurse are available during the morning shift, while the afternoon and night shifts remain unattended. The prison’s central clinic in Karaj has only one doctor. Prison guards refuse to transfer emergency patients to the clinic at night to avoid breaking the wards’ security seals. For political and ideological prisoners, even when urgent medical care is required outside the prison, authorities deliberately deny transfers, subjecting them to conditions that effectively prepare the ground for their deaths.
According to the Iranian Prison Organization’s regulations, all inmates have the right to medical care. These regulations mandate regular medical checkups and immediate hospital transfers for those in need of urgent treatment. However, multiple reports indicate that this fundamental right is frequently denied.
According to Article 12 of the ICESCR, “Everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” The dire health conditions in Qezel-Hesar esar Prison are a blatant violation of this provision.
6. Spread of Corruption and Drug Trafficking in the Prison
With an inmate population of approximately 17,000, Qezel-Hesar Prison suffers from severe overcrowding, creating conditions in which prisoners must rely on corrupt networks and drug distribution channels controlled by the prison’s Cooperative Foundation to meet their daily needs. This foundation forces inmates to buy low-quality goods at exorbitant prices.
Reports indicate that drug trafficking within the prison is facilitated by this corruption network, with high-ranking officials of the Cooperative Foundation involved. Notably, Sohrab Soleimani, the brother of Qasem Soleimani, is reportedly a key figure in this network.
According to Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.” The prison authorities’ indifference to corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights violations amounts to degrading treatment.
7. Torture and Inhumane Treatment of Prisoners
Torture and inhumane treatment are among the major violations reported in Ghezel Hesar Prison. According to numerous reports, political prisoners and individuals detained on political charges are systematically subjected to physical and psychological torture. These forms of abuse include beatings, threats of execution, forced false confessions, denial of family visits and legal representation, and deprivation of necessities such as essential medications and food packages from family members. Some reports indicate that prisoners are deliberately placed in unbearable conditions that cause severe physical and psychological harm.
Reports from Amnesty International in past years have highlighted that torture remains a serious issue in Iranian prisons. The organization’s 2023 report stated that “the conditions in Iranian prisons, especially for political prisoners, constitute gross human rights violations, and torture is systematically used as a method of suppressing dissent.”
Amnesty International’s 2024 report further confirms that political prisoners in Iran, particularly in Qezel-Hesar Prison, are subjected to severe physical and psychological torture. This report states that many prisoners, detained for peaceful protests or their political beliefs, are deliberately subjected to harsh torture. One of the documented torture methods is the use of “handcuffs and blindfolds,” which cause severe physical and mental suffering. Amnesty International emphasized that many prisoners, even after enduring brutal torture, are denied access to legal counsel. In some cases, the threat of execution is used as leverage to force false confessions.
According to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), to which Iran is a party, torture is prohibited under all circumstances. Article 1 of this convention defines torture as “any act that inflicts severe physical or mental pain or suffering as a means of punishment or coercion.” The conditions in Qezel-Hesar Prison are a blatant violation of these principles.
Furthermore, under Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.” The documented cases of torture in Qezel-Hesar Prison constitute a direct violation of this fundamental right.
“To be continued…”
