Evin Prison

Evin Prison (Persian: زندان اوین) is a prison located in the Evin neighborhood of Tehran, Iran. The prison has been the primary site for the housing of Iran's political prisoners since 1972, before and after the Iranian Revolution, in a purpose-built wing nicknamed "Evin University" due to the high number of students and intellectuals detained there. Members of religious minorities have also been imprisoned at Evin, including members of the Baháʼí Faith. Baháʼís are routinely persecuted for their beliefs in Iran, and they have been unjustly arrested and imprisoned based on a variety of fabricated charges including political activity or espionage. Evin Prison has been accused of committing "serious human rights abuses" against detainees, including beatings, torture, solitary confinement, and denial of medical care. Many Bahá’ís have been tortured and executed at the prison.

Members of the Yárán (Friends in Iran), pictured months before their 2008 imprisonment in Evin Prison.

On May 14, 2008, members of the Yárán (Friends in Iran) were arrested and taken to Evin. They were held in Section 209 of the prison which is run by the government's Ministry of Intelligence. On August 11, 2010, it became known that the court sentence was 20 years imprisonment for each of the seven prisoners, later reduced to ten years. They were transferred to Gohardasht Prison in 2011. While the rest of the members remained imprisoned there, Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi were transferred to Qarchak prison and then finally returned to Evin.

According to journalist Roxana Saberi, Sabet and Kamalabadi were confined in a small cell about four meters by five meters while held in Evin, with two small metal-covered windows. They had no bed. "They must sleep on blankets [...] They have no pillows, either. They roll up a blanket to use as a pillow. They use their chadors [cloaks] as a bed sheet." After being released in 2017, Sabet was once again arrested and returned to Evin in 2022. Reports have emerged that Sabet endured torture and that her knees were broken during an interrogation, despite chronic illness and deteriorating health.

Bahá’ís imprisoned at Evin

See also: Persecution of Bahá’ís#Iran

The following is a list of Bahá’ís who are being held, or have been held at Evin Prison.

Currently imprisoned

Bahá’ís who are currently imprisoned at Evin Prison.

• Mahvash Sabet: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht and returned to Evin; 2011–2017; 2022-present

Formerly imprisoned

Bahá’ís who were formerly imprisoned at Evin Prison, but were released or transferred to other prisons.

• Afif Naeimi: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht
• Amínu’lláh Qurbánpúr: 1984, transferred
• Behrouz Tavakkoli: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht
• Fariba Kamalabadi: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht and returned to Evin; 2011–2017
• Fidrus Shabrukh: 1983, transferred to Zahidan
• Jahángír Hidáyatí: 1983, transferred to Gohardasht
• Jamaloddin Khanjani: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht
• Rahmatu’lláh Vujdání: 1984, transferred to Bandar-‘Abbás
• Saeid Rezaie: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht
• Vahid Tizfahm: 2008–2011, transferred to Gohardasht

Executed or died

See also: Martyr

Bahá’ís who were imprisoned at Evin Prison and were executed or died there.

• ‘Abbás Ídilkhání: entered 1985, died while imprisoned on August 1, 1985
• Abol-Ghasim Shayegh: entered c. 1984-1987, executed on March 3, 1987
• ‘Alí-Akbar Mu‘íní: entered 1979, executed by firing squad on May 6, 1980
• ‘Alí-Muhammad Zamání: entered 1983, executed by firing squad on May 15, 1984
• Asadu’lláh Kámil-Muqaddam: entered 1984, died of a heart attack while imprisoned on May 2, 1984
• ‘Atá’u’lláh Yávarí: entered 1981, executed on January 4, 1982
• Badí’u’lláh Faríd, tortured and executed by firing squad on June 24, 1981
• Bádí’u’lláh Yazdání, executed by firing squad on May 6, 1980
• Behnam Pashaie, tortured and executed in November 1988
• Bihrúz Saná’í, executed by firing squad on December 17, 1980
• Buzurg ‘Alavíyán, executed by firing squad on June 22, 1981
• Farhang Mavaddat, executed on June 23, 1981
• Farid Behmardi, tortured and executed on June 10, 1986
• Fathu’lláh Firdawsí, executed on January 4, 1982
• Ghulám-Husayn A‘zamí, executed by firing squad on May 6, 1980
• Ghulám-Husayn Hasanzádih-Shákirí, executed by firing squad on March 10, 1984
• Habíbu’lláh ‘Azízí, executed by firing squad on August 29, 1981
• Háshim Farnúsh, executed by firing squad on June 23, 1981
• Husayn Rastigár-Námdár, executed by firing squad on August 5, 1981
• Ibráhím Khayrkháh, executed by firing squad on February 22, 1982
• Ihsánu’lláh Kathírí, executed on June 27, 1984
• Iskandar ‘Azízí, executed on January 4, 1982
• Kámrán Lutfí, executed by firing squad on April 4, 1984
• Khusraw Muhandisí, executed on January 4, 1982
• Masíh Farhangí, executed on June 24, 1981
• Muhsin Radaví, tortured and executed by hanging on March 4, 1984
• Nasru’lláh Amíní, executed on May 16, 1982
• Nusratu’lláh Subhání, executed by hanging on March 5, 1985
• Parvíz Bayání, executed by firing squad, July 23, 1980
• Rahím Rahímíyán, tortured and executed by firing squad on April 4, 1984
• Sa‘du’lláh Bábázádih, executed by hanging on May 16, 1982
• Serrollah Vahdat, tortured and executed by hanging on May 4, 1986
• Sháhpúr Markazí, tortured and executed on September 23, 1984
• Shídrukh Amír-Kíyá Baqá, tortured and executed by firing squad on January 4, 1982
• Soroush Jabbari, executed by hanging on March 3, 1987
• Varqá Tibyáníyán, tortured and executed by shooting, June 24, 1981
• Yadu’lláh Mahbúbíyán, executed by firing squad on July 30, 1980
• Yadu’lláh Sábiríyán, executed by firing squad on April 4, 1984
• Yadu’lláh Sipihr-Arfa‘, executed on October 23, 1981
• Yadu’lláh Pústchí, executed by firing squad on June 24, 1981
• Yúnis Nawrúzí-Iránzád, tortured and executed by hanging on November 1, 1984
• Yúsif Subhání, executed on June 27, 1980

References

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Evin Prison.