Fears Mount Over Escalated Crackdown on Political Prisoners
Tehran’s Evin Prison has reportedly been placed under full lockdown by Iran’s Special Unit forces, following a surge in regional military conflict triggered by recent Israeli attacks. According to reliable sources, the siege includes Ward 8, which houses a significant number of political and ideological prisoners.
As cross-border hostilities intensify, the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus has sharply increased surveillance and control measures across the political and civil landscape. This pattern, seen during past crises, raises growing concerns that the external conflict may be used as a pretext for internal repression.
Eyewitness reports indicate a heavy presence of Special Unit forces inside the prison compound. These forces are reportedly restricting internal movements, cutting off phone communications between prisoners and their families, and limiting access to basic activities such as outdoor exercise. The imposed isolation has heightened concerns for the safety and wellbeing of detainees.
Evin Prison is one of Iran’s primary facilities for holding political and security-related detainees and has long been under scrutiny by international human rights organizations. The current siege and imposed restrictions come at a time when civil society and public opinion are deeply alarmed about the use of wartime conditions to intensify domestic repression.
Historically, during periods of political crisis, authoritarian regimes have sought to suppress dissent by curtailing access to information and increasing restrictions on civil liberties. The physical lockdown of Evin, coupled with the communication blackout, effectively severs prisoners’ contact with the outside world and obstructs legal and humanitarian oversight.
Past incidents during similar crises have shown that political prisoners face heightened risks, including physical abuse, coercion for forced confessions, and systemic mistreatment. Human rights activists warn that denying detainees access to legal counsel, medical care, and family contact during such periods could amount to serious human rights violations.
Strict Restrictions
Reports also suggest that security forces are imposing strict restrictions on prison staff to prevent information leaks. Some accounts claim that even administrative personnel have been barred from carrying mobile phones, and their movements are being closely monitored.
Despite mounting concern, no official statement has been issued by Iran’s Prisons Organization or judiciary regarding the reasons behind the siege or the new restrictions. This official silence has only deepened the anxiety of human rights groups and families of the incarcerated.
Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM) urges the international community, human rights organizations, and UN special rapporteurs to immediately investigate the situation at Evin Prison. We call for urgent pressure on the Iranian authorities to end the siege, restore communication rights for prisoners, and ensure full access to legal and medical services. The use of external conflict as a pretext for domestic repression must be firmly condemned.
