In one of the most shocking recent events in Iranian prisons, on the morning of Saturday, July 26, 2025, special guard forces, in coordination with security agencies and the authorities of Qezel Hesar Prison, stormed Ward 4 – the unit designated for political prisoners. This raid, carried out under the direct orders of the prison’s director, Allah-Karam Azizi, and involving more than 100 armed personnel, is a clear example of gross human rights violations and the continued systematic repression of political dissent in Iran.
Beatings, Torture, and Solitary Confinement: A Targeted Attack to Intimidate
Reliable reports indicate that the officers violently assaulted the prisoners, using handcuffs, leg shackles, and placing bags over their heads, before transferring all of them to solitary confinement cells. Since the attack, there has been no communication between the political prisoners and their families, intensifying concerns about their physical and mental well-being.
Sudden Executions: A Further Violation of Justice and Humanity
Following the crackdown, on Sunday, July 27, two political prisoners, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani, were executed without prior notice to their families and without the right to a final visit. This execution occurred despite significant due process violations in their cases, including repeated denials of retrial requests and the lack of access to an appellate court. The charges against them were reportedly linked to membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
The World Remained Silent While the Executioners Led Innocents to the Gallows
Exile of Saeed Masouri: A Veteran Prisoner’s Life in Danger
In a continuation of these pressures, Saeed Masouri, a political prisoner who has been incarcerated for 25 years without a single day of leave, was suddenly and without any formal ruling transferred to Zahedan Prison – a remote facility known for its dire conditions. His family has described this exile as a serious threat to his life. His sister, Mrs. Masouri, wrote on the social media platform X: “Today, after 25 years in prison, Saeed was exiled to Zahedan without notice and without any official ruling – a remote location with harsh conditions. This transfer endangers his life.”
A Coordinated Strategy to Crush Resistance
Human rights analysts believe that these violent and coordinated actions reflect a continued systematic policy of repression and intimidation in Iranian prisons. The goal of such operations is to break the spirit of political prisoners, prevent internal dissent, and conceal the inhumane conditions that prevail in the prison system.
