Systematic Repression of Sunni Prisoners of Conscience in Vakil Abad Prison, Mashhad
Introduction
Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad is one of Iran’s most notorious prisons for human rights violations. One of its wards houses numerous political and religious prisoners, as well as members of religious minorities, who endure inhumane conditions and extensive repression. Among these prisoners, Sunni Muslims are among the most vulnerable, facing systematic discrimination, deprivation of basic rights, torture, and even extrajudicial executions. This report examines the situation of these prisoners and provides documented cases of violations of rights against them.
1. Religious Discrimination and Systematic Repression
Sunni prisoners in Vakil Abad Prison are subjected to severe repression:
- Congregational prayers and other Sunni religious ceremonies are strictly prohibited, and any religious activity is met with security crackdowns.
- Some prisoners have reported been tortured and placed in solitary confinement for resisting pressure to change their faith.
2. Deprivation of Basic Human Rights; Unbearable Living Conditions
Like other inmates, Sunni prisoners are deprived of essential healthcare services. Many suffer from chronic illnesses but are denied access to medical treatment.
- The prison’s food supply is extremely poor, leading to malnutrition and severe health problems among prisoners.
- Access to clean drinking water is limited, and the poor quality of available water has caused digestive and kidney-related illnesses among the inmates.
3. The Conditions of Sunni Prisoners in Ward 6-1 of Vakil Abad Prison
- Most Sunni prisoners are held in Ward 6-1 of Vakil Abad Prison, which is among the worst in terms of conditions and facilities.
- The ward is severely overcrowded, and many prisoners are forced to live in unsanitary and inhumane conditions.
- According to inside reports, the ward is filthy, with leaking water from the upper-level bathrooms dripping onto inmates below. The presence of pests such as bedbugs, lice, and cockroaches has made living conditions intolerable.
- These prisoners are held alongside dangerous criminals and violent offenders, putting their safety at serious risk.
- They are also deprived of family contact, medical services, and subjected to severe psychological and physical pressures.
4. Torture, Forced Confessions, and Threats Against Families: A Dark Reality in Vakil Abad Prison
Reports from within Vakil Abad Prison indicate that prisoners have been subjected to brutal torture and forced to confess under duress, with these confessions later used against them in unfair trials.
- The torture methods include electric shocks, cable beatings, physical assaults, and pepper spray applied to sensitive areas of the body.
- Prison authorities have also threatened prisoners’ families with forced divorce, harassment, and even sexual violence to increase pressure on detainees.
5. Secret Executions Without Fair Trials: The Unpunished Crimes of the Iranian Regime
Many Sunni prisoners have been sentenced to death without fair trials and without access to independent legal representation. They have been convicted on baseless charges, such as alleged membership in the so-called “National Sunni Solidarity Front,” without any credible evidence.
- The sudden execution of inmates without prior notice to their families has increased in recent years.
6. Names and Fates of Sunni Prisoners: Evidence of Injustice and Oppression
- Farhad Shakeri, Isa Eidmohammadi, Abdulhakim Azim Gorgij, and Abdolrahman Gorgij were arrested in 2015 and sentenced to death on fabricated charges. Their death sentences have been issued and confirmed multiple times.
- Abdolbaset Orsan has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and is deprived of medical care.
- Hamid Rast Bala, Mohammad Ali Arayesh, and Kabir Saadat Jahani were suddenly executed in December 2020 without prior notice to their families. These religious prisoners were denied the right to legal representation of their choice during their trials.
7. A Plea to the International Community: A Cry That Must Not Be Ignored
On January 14, 2025, six Sunni prisoners in Vakil Abad Prison—Isa Eidmohammadi, Farhad Shakeri, Habib Pirmohammadi, Abdolrahman Gorgij, Abdolbaset Orsan, and Abdulhakim Azim Gorgij—sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General and Amnesty International, urging immediate international intervention to end the torture and inhumane conditions suffered by prisoners, including Sunni detainees, in Vakil Abad Prison.
8. Vakil Abad Prison and Violations of International Human Rights Laws
- The repression of prisoners of conscience and religious minorities violates international human rights documents, including Articles 2, 18, and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
- The right to a fair trial before an impartial court is emphasized in Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- Denial of access to legal counsel and the deprivation of essential rights during legal proceedings violate Article 9 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR, adopted on December 16, 1966.
- Article 5 of the Iranian Code of Criminal Procedure emphasizes the accused’s right to be informed promptly of the charges against them and to have access to legal representation and other legal defense rights.
9. Silence of Human Rights Organizations: A License for Continued Repression?
- Despite numerous reports from prisoners, lawyers, and human rights organizations detailing the dire conditions of Sunni prisoners in Iran, international human rights bodies have taken insufficient action to halt these crimes.
- The inaction of these organizations has emboldened the Iranian regime to continue its systematic repression of prisoners of conscience without consequences.
- Greater pressure from international bodies is necessary to compel these organizations to fulfill their responsibilities toward Sunni prisoners and other religious minorities.
10. Urgent Call for Action: The World Must Rise to Save Prisoners Under Iran’s Regime
- The United Nations, Amnesty International, and other human rights organizations must exert greater pressure on the Iranian government to prevent the execution of prisoners.
- Independent international investigations must be conducted into the torture, forced confessions, and other human rights violations occurring in Vakil Abad Prison.
Conclusion: Vakil Abad —A Symbol of Religious Oppression; The Time to Act Against Human Rights Violations is Now
The situation of prisoners in Vakil Abad Prison, particularly prisoners of conscience and Sunni detainees, exemplifies the systematic violation of human rights in Iran. These prisoners are not only deprived of religious freedom but are also subjected to the worst possible conditions. Urgent action by the international community is necessary to put an end to this injustice.
