Concerns Grow Over Brutality in Iran’s Prisons Amid Ongoing Protests
As protests continue to gain momentum across Iran, there are growing fears about the violence taking place behind prison walls, according to former political prisoners. They warn that the situation outside is just a glimpse of the severe conditions many detainees face.
In interviews, three former prisoners shared their harrowing experiences, describing a system that seeks to crush dissent through methods such as solitary confinement, physical abuse, medical neglect, and threats of death. Their testimonies cover nearly two decades, linking past uprisings to the current “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, revealing an ongoing trend of escalating brutality.
Maryam Shariatmadari, a prominent activist from the “Girls of Revolution Street” protests against mandatory hijab laws, highlighted the severe crackdown on demonstrators. After being jailed for a year in 2018 for removing her hijab, she noted the shocking scale of recent protests and the government’s reactions.
Shariatmadari stated, “The regime’s forces are killing wounded protesters on the spot, something we haven’t seen in 47 years.” She emphasized the alarming rise in detentions, stating that authorities have resorted to using schools and ambulances to detain demonstrators, a disturbing new tactic in recent protests.
Former political prisoner Mehdi Ghadimi, a journalist who was detained during the protests, shared his terrifying experiences. He was often interrogated for hours while blindfolded and witnessed the brutal treatment of others. Ghadimi provided insight into the rising number of detainees, suggesting that it may well exceed the official estimates.
Fellow former prisoner Shabnam Madadzadeh recalled the chaos and brutality from her time in prison during the 2009 uprisings, warning that the current situation could lead to mass executions. She recounted threats from interrogators declaring that no one would survive if the government fell.
Amidst these fears, there is a pressing concern about the lack of information regarding conditions inside prisons. Madadzadeh pointed out that families are left in despair, searching in vain for loved ones as they navigate between detainment facilities and morgues.
The former detainees urge the international community not to ignore these warnings. They call for urgent action to ensure human rights are respected in Iran, stressing that every moment of inaction could cost lives. They emphasize that the public should remain aware of the suffering happening behind closed doors, insisting that the plight of detainees deserves immediate attention and response.
