A “Dead End” for Forgotten Women
Qarchak Women’s Prison in Varamin, located on the Qaleh Now Tehran–Varamin road, in the heart of the desert, is not only a detention center for women accused of various crimes, but has also become a living testament to neglect, systemic violence, and injustice. In this exclusive report, we examine the appalling conditions faced by female inmates in this prison—women trapped in an inhumane environment governed by a policy of silence, corruption, and utter disregard for their human rights.
Torture, Violence, and Threats: The Daily Reality of Incarcerated Women
According to numerous testimonies emerging from inside Qarchak Prison, women are subjected to ongoing psychological and physical torture, including beatings, sexual abuse, and humiliation. The prison warden, Soghra Khodadadi, along with the head of the women’s ward and several guards, have been accused of forming a “power mafia” that suppresses any dissent through threats, censorship, and violence.
Any official inspection of the prison is met with locked wards and a staged environment to prevent inmates’ voices from reaching outside institutions. This climate of fear has led many women to remain silent about their suffering and refrain from asserting even their most basic rights.
A Health and Hygiene Catastrophe
Qarchak Varamin is in a state of crisis with regard to hygiene. Only two showers are usable in the ward, both without doors or locks, and their damp walls are stained with yellow and white mold. The unsanitary sewage system, constant presence of rats, and extremely poor-quality food have led to widespread gastrointestinal infections and skin diseases among the women.
The prison’s drinking water is contaminated, forcing inmates to pay for clean water. The water purification system is broken and has not been replaced.
Sick Inmates Denied Medical Care: From Cancer to AIDS
Women suffering from cancer, AIDS, and heart disease endure unbearable conditions in this prison. Not only are they denied proper medical and healthcare services, but they are often not allowed to receive essential medications from outside.
A harrowing example is a woman suffering from uterine cancer. Though the medical examiner has ordered immediate pelvic surgery, her medical furlough has been made conditional on a 15 billion toman bail—an amount her family cannot afford. Numerous cases have been reported where women have died due to the lack of timely medical attention. One such case is Atefeh Bannaei, whose deteriorating condition was dismissed by prison authorities as “feigned illness,” leading to her death behind bars.
Women Held Arbitrarily Behind Bars
Many women at Qarchak remain imprisoned even after completing their sentences or paying fines and restitution. Failures in the judiciary’s electronic notification system (Sana) and the sluggish pace of legal proceedings have denied these women the opportunity to appeal or defend themselves. Some have languished in prison for years without any clear explanation from the authorities.
Meanwhile, reports of widespread corruption have emerged: some individuals sentenced to death have allegedly secured their release by paying large sums of money. In stark contrast, over 150 women sentenced to death—accused of murder or drug trafficking—remain in prison, their voices unheard.
Dire Living Conditions and Lack of Basic Resources
Incarcerated women are deprived of even the most basic necessities, including newspapers, colored pens, or correction fluid. The prison’s heating and cooling systems are dysfunctional, subjecting the women to extreme temperatures that endanger their health. No effective rehabilitation or educational programs are in place, and the women spend their days in despair and hopelessness.
The poor quality of food has become a major concern—from moldy rice to spoiled meals, the prison diet poses serious risks to the women’s health.
Stories of Forgotten Women
Among the many tragic accounts, some stand out as especially distressing. One such case is that of a foreign woman named Lifen Yan, who, lacking proficiency in Persian and without access to a translator during her trial, ended up imprisoned in Qarchak. Her partner was released after paying $250,000, yet Yan remains behind bars.
Another case involves a 67-year-old woman imprisoned due to financial debt. Although she has undergone open-heart surgery, she has been denied access to her vital medications.
