On Tuesday, tensions escalated in Evin Prison when political prisoner Mir-Youssef Younesi, a 70-year-old man, was forcibly transferred to Ward 7, a section meant for inmates convicted of common crimes. This decision, made by the prison warden Heydat Farzadi, sparked a protest sit-in by other political prisoners in Ward 4.
The incident unfolded after a family visit where Mir-Youssef had spent precious time with his son, Ali, who is also imprisoned for his political beliefs. After their reunion, prison guards abruptly intervened, separating them and moving Mir-Youssef away, citing a new rule that prohibited them from being housed together. Despite their protests and deep emotional pleas to remain together, the transfer went ahead.
Mir-Youssef faces serious health challenges, including diabetes and hearing loss, making his forced relocation even more distressing. His health vulnerabilities were ignored as he was moved against his will. In response, several political prisoners in Ward 4 staged a sit-in protest, gathering outside the office of Pasdar Ghasemi, the head officer, demanding that Mir-Yousef be returned.
The sudden and brutal separation of the Younesi family highlights the profound suffering endured by political prisoners and the emotional torment inflicted on their families. The situation has raised serious concerns about the psychological abuse faced by those who stand up for their beliefs in such oppressive conditions.
Background
Mir-Youssef Younesi is a long-time political activist who has spent over 14 years in prison, both before and after the 1979 revolution. He was arrested again during the nationwide protests of 2022. On December 28, 2022, he was detained at his family home in Shahroud by plainclothes agents without a warrant. Days later, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence accused him of involvement with a “network providing financial and logistical support” to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), a group outlawed by the Iranian government.
He was held in solitary confinement for over three months in Wards 209 and 240 of Evin Prison, where he was reportedly denied medication, subjected to torture, and pressured to confess to charges he denied. He has remained in legal limbo for over a year and was eventually sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court.
His son, Ali Younesi, is a computer engineering student and award-winning scholar from Sharif University of Technology. He was arrested on April 10, 2020, alongside fellow student Amir Hossein Moradi, without a court order. The arrest involved violent beatings, including an attack by twelve Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) agents that left Ali with a serious forehead injury. Both were held in solitary confinement in Ward 209 following their arrests.
Ali Younesi was initially sentenced to 16 years in prison, which was later reduced to six years and eight months. He remains detained in Ward 4 of Evin Prison.
