Iran's Prisons: A Deep Dive Into The Plight Of Detainees

Hannah Stiedemann 18 Jun 2025

The plight of prisoners in Iran has long been a subject of grave international concern, casting a stark light on the country's human rights record. Behind the formidable walls of facilities like Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, countless individuals, including political dissidents, dual nationals, and even ordinary citizens, endure conditions that violate fundamental human rights. This article delves into the harrowing realities faced by detainees in Iran, exploring the systemic abuses, the arbitrary nature of arrests and trials, and the relentless struggle for justice and transparency.

Drawing on testimonies from former prisoners, reports from human rights organizations, and specific case studies, we aim to provide a comprehensive and empathetic look into a system often shrouded in secrecy. Understanding the challenges faced by prisoners in Iran is crucial not only for advocating for their rights but also for comprehending the broader socio-political landscape of the nation.

The Shadowy World of Iranian Prisons
Who Are the Prisoners in Iran?
- Case Studies: Prominent Detainees
- The Plight of Dual Nationals and Foreigners
Evin Prison: A Symbol of Repression
Systemic Abuse and Medical Neglect
- Torture and Sham Trials
- Deadly Conditions: A Routine Reality
The Role of the Judiciary and Legal System
The Iran Prison Atlas (IPA): Documenting the Truth
International Pressure and Prisoner Swaps
The Human Cost: Families and Activists

The Shadowy World of Iranian Prisons

Iran's prison system operates largely behind a veil of opacity, making it incredibly challenging for external observers to ascertain the full extent of human rights violations. However, consistent reports from former detainees, their families, and international human rights organizations paint a grim picture. These facilities are not merely places of incarceration but often serve as instruments of political repression, designed to silence dissent and enforce conformity. The conditions within these prisons are frequently described as harrowing, characterized by overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and a severe lack of medical care. The fundamental rights of detainees, including the right to due process, access to legal counsel, and protection from torture, are routinely disregarded.

The Iranian prison service itself published statistics in 2014, indicating a total of 210,672 prisoners across its provinces. Tehran, the capital, bore the largest share, with 31,900 prisoners, representing a significant proportion of the national total. While these figures offer a glimpse into the sheer scale of incarceration, they do not convey the qualitative suffering endured by those behind bars, nor do they differentiate between various categories of detainees, such as political prisoners, who often face the harshest treatment.

Who Are the Prisoners in Iran?

The population of prisoners in Iran is diverse, yet a significant segment consists of individuals detained for their political views, activism, or perceived threats to national security. These political prisoners in Iran often include journalists, human rights defenders, artists, academics, and dual nationals. Their arrests are frequently arbitrary, and the charges against them are vague, such as "promoting a soft revolution" or "acting against national security." The Iranian government views any form of dissent or independent thought as a potential challenge to its authority, leading to widespread arrests and detentions.

Beyond political detainees, Iran's prisons also hold individuals convicted of common crimes. However, even for these individuals, the conditions of detention and the judicial process often fall far short of international standards. The lack of transparency in the judicial system, coupled with the pervasive use of torture to extract confessions, means that many individuals, regardless of the initial charge, are denied fair trials and subjected to inhumane treatment.

Case Studies: Prominent Detainees

The stories of specific individuals underscore the broader patterns of injustice within Iran's prison system. These cases often garner international attention, highlighting the severe consequences of being labeled an enemy of the state:

Siamak Namazi: An oil executive, Namazi, 51, was first detained in 2015 when he traveled to Iran on business. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges, which his family and the U.S. government vehemently denied. His case became a symbol of Iran's practice of detaining dual nationals for political leverage.
Baquer Namazi: Siamak's father, Baquer, was also detained. Iran eventually allowed Baquer to leave for medical treatment in 2022, a testament to the severe health issues many elderly prisoners face due to neglect.
Emad Sharghi: Detained in 2018 while working for a tech investment company, Sharghi, an Iranian-American businessman, also faced charges related to national security. He was among those eventually released in a prisoner swap.
Morad Tahbaz: An Iranian-American conservationist, Tahbaz was arrested alongside other environmentalists. His case, like many others, highlighted the broad scope of what Iran considers a threat to its security.
Harotonian: Convicted of "promoting a soft revolution in Iran" on January 19, 2009, and sentenced to 3 years in prison. At the time of her arrest, Harotonian was an administrative officer for a maternal and child health project in Tehran for the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), a U.S. organization. Her case exemplifies the targeting of individuals associated with foreign entities, even those involved in humanitarian work.
Cecile Kohler's Sister: The families of prisoners held in Iran are "truly terrified" for loved ones amid conflict. Noemie Kohler, whose sister Cecile is held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, voiced these fears, reflecting the immense psychological burden placed on families by the uncertainty and cruelty of the system.

These individuals, alongside many others, represent the human face of the systemic issues within Iran's detention centers. Their experiences highlight the arbitrary nature of arrests, the lack of due process, and the severe conditions they endure.

The Plight of Dual Nationals and Foreigners

The cases of Siamak Namazi, Baquer Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz vividly illustrate the precarious situation of dual nationals and foreign citizens in Iran. These individuals are often detained on vague charges, used as bargaining chips in international negotiations, or accused of espionage without credible evidence. Their arrests are frequently followed by prolonged periods of detention, often in solitary confinement, without access to legal representation or consular services. The families of these prisoners in Iran live in constant fear, as their loved ones become pawns in geopolitical struggles, their fates tied to diplomatic breakthroughs rather than legal processes.

Evin Prison: A Symbol of Repression

Tehran's Evin Prison holds a particularly grim reputation as the primary facility for political prisoners in Iran. Its name has become synonymous with human rights abuses, torture, and arbitrary detention. A deadly fire at Evin Prison amid ongoing social upheaval in October 2022 further drew focus to the dire human rights abuses behind its walls. DW spoke to two former prisoners about their time in Iran's most infamous prison, recounting experiences of physical and psychological torture, forced confessions, and severe neglect.

Evin is not an isolated case; reports document treatment in detention in a number of facilities across Iran. However, Evin's notoriety stems from its historical role in housing political dissidents and the consistent stream of credible testimonies detailing systematic violations within its confines. It serves as a stark reminder of the state's power to suppress dissent through fear and brutality.

Systemic Abuse and Medical Neglect

Iran's prisons are harrowing places where abuse and neglect are rampant. Reports based on testimonies from former and current incarcerated individuals in Iran reveal severe and systemic issues that fly in the face of Iran’s international human rights obligations. These issues range from overcrowding and unsanitary conditions to physical and psychological torture, and critically, the deliberate denial of medical care.

Torture and Sham Trials

Survivors of a shadowy network of Iranian detention centers detail horrific methods of repression and torture designed to crush an uprising. These accounts align with historical documentation, such as "Prisons and Public Recantations in Modern Iran" (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1999), which highlights the long-standing practice of extracting confessions under duress. Executions frequently follow sham trials and "confessions" extracted under torture. As of April 2025, at least 50 political prisoners, including three women, were reportedly facing execution in Iran. On April 8, 2025, the Islamic Republic executed five more political prisoners without any notice to their families or granting them a final visit. The five men were executed after sham trials tainted by such forced confessions, underscoring the arbitrary and cruel nature of Iran's justice system.

The lack of transparency and due process in these trials means that individuals are often denied the opportunity to present a proper defense, with their fates sealed by confessions obtained through brutal means. This systematic denial of justice makes the term "judicial process" a cruel misnomer for many of those caught in the system.

Deadly Conditions: A Routine Reality

The deliberate denial of critical medical care by Iranian prison authorities is a routine practice in the Islamic Republic of Iran, leading to tragic and preventable deaths. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) reported that at least four prisoners died in Iranian prisons in just the first two months of 2025 due to this medical neglect. CHRI also speaks to cellmates of political prisoners who died due to medical neglect, providing firsthand accounts of the suffering endured. This practice not only violates international human rights laws but also demonstrates a profound disregard for human life. The lack of proper medical attention, coupled with unsanitary conditions and poor nutrition, turns incarceration into a death sentence for many, particularly those with pre-existing health conditions or those who suffer injuries due to torture.

The Role of the Judiciary and Legal System

The judiciary in Iran, rather than acting as an independent arbiter of justice, is widely seen as an instrument of state control, particularly in cases involving political dissent or national security. The "Data Kalimat" highlights the lack of transparency around the judges and judicial system that imprisons Iranians. This opacity allows for arbitrary arrests, sham trials, and sentences that are often disproportionate to the alleged offenses. Judges frequently issue verdicts based on coerced confessions, without proper investigation or adherence to legal procedures. The system is designed to punish and deter, rather than to ensure justice or rehabilitation. This institutionalized lack of independence means that prisoners in Iran have little recourse for appeal or fair review of their cases, trapping them in a cycle of injustice.

The Iran Prison Atlas (IPA): Documenting the Truth

In response to the systemic abuses and lack of transparency, initiatives like the Iran Prison Atlas (IPA) have emerged as crucial resources. The IPA was started in 2011 by former political prisoners who wanted to help protect their imprisoned friends and fellow activists in Iran. Through the documentation of prisoners, the condition of prisons, and transparency around the judges and judicial system that imprisons Iranians, the IPA develops a clear lens through which the status of human rights can be understood.

The IPA provides invaluable data, allowing researchers and advocates to explore the lives and sentences of Iran’s political prisoners (271 prisons documented) and the prisons that hold them. This detailed documentation is vital for holding the Iranian government accountable and for informing international advocacy efforts. It serves as a testament to the resilience of those who have suffered under the system and their determination to shed light on its darkest corners.

International Pressure and Prisoner Swaps

The international community has consistently condemned Iran's human rights record, particularly its treatment of political prisoners and dual nationals. This pressure often manifests in diplomatic efforts and, at times, in complex prisoner swaps. In a significant development in September 2023, five prisoners sought by the U.S. in a swap with Iran were freed and headed home as part of a deal that saw nearly $6 billion in Iranian assets unfrozen. Emad Sharghi, Morad Tahbaz, and Siamak Namazi, former prisoners in Iran, were among those who walked out of a Qatar Airways flight that brought them out of Tehran and to Doha, Qatar, on a Monday. This exchange, while a relief for the individuals and their families, also highlights the contentious nature of these detentions, often perceived as state-sponsored hostage-taking for political or economic gain.

Such swaps, while providing freedom for some, also raise ethical questions about incentivizing further arbitrary detentions. Nevertheless, for the families of those unjustly imprisoned, these deals represent a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape.

The Human Cost: Families and Activists

Beyond the direct suffering of prisoners, the impact of Iran's repressive system reverberates deeply through their families and the broader activist community. Families of prisoners held in Iran are "truly terrified" for their loved ones amid conflict, as expressed by Noemie Kohler, whose sister Cecile is held in Evin Prison. This fear is compounded by the lack of information, the inability to visit regularly, and the constant worry about the health and safety of their imprisoned relatives. The emotional and financial toll on these families is immense, often forcing them into silence or, conversely, into courageous public advocacy campaigns.

Activists, both inside and outside Iran, continue to work tirelessly to document abuses, raise awareness, and advocate for the release of political prisoners. Their efforts, often at great personal risk, are crucial in piercing the veil of secrecy that surrounds Iran's prisons. Their work ensures that the stories of those suffering are not forgotten and that pressure remains on the Iranian government to adhere to its international human rights obligations. The struggle for justice for prisoners in Iran is an ongoing battle, fought by many, with immense courage and determination.

Conclusion

The situation of prisoners in Iran remains a critical human rights concern, marked by systemic abuses, arbitrary detentions, and a judiciary that serves as an instrument of state repression. From the notorious Evin Prison to other detention centers across the country, countless individuals, particularly political prisoners and dual nationals, endure harrowing conditions, including torture, sham trials, and deliberate medical neglect. The stories of individuals like Siamak and Baquer Namazi, Emad Sharghi, Morad Tahbaz, and Harotonian serve as stark reminders of the human cost of this system.

Despite the challenges, organizations like the Iran Prison Atlas continue to shed light on these abuses, providing vital documentation and transparency. International pressure, though often fraught with complexities, has led to some releases, offering a sliver of hope for families living in terror. The resilience of these families and the unwavering commitment of human rights activists are crucial in the ongoing fight for justice and accountability. It is imperative that the international community continues to demand transparency, respect for due process, and an end to the egregious human rights violations perpetrated against prisoners in Iran. Share this article to help raise awareness about this critical issue, and consider supporting organizations dedicated to human rights in Iran.

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