Dire Conditions in Iran’s Evin Prison

Atena Daemi, a human rights activist, has reported the dire situation for female inmates in Iran’s notorious Evin prison in a series of posts on Twitter.

The report indicates extremely poor health conditions in the detention center, including “dirty” bathrooms, with prison authorities refusing to give the prisoners cleaning supplies despite repeated requests. 

Daemi wrote that her report was based on the stories of women who had recently been released from Evin’s Ward 209.

"Due to the large number of inmates, the number of showers is limited, and prisoners are only allowed to use them twice a week. Severe hair loss, dandruff and fear of lice have been reported among the prisoners," Daemi wrote.

"Cells are overcrowded and not ventilated. When a person gets sick, all inmates in the cell are exposed to the disease (seven to eight people). There is nowhere to walk in the cell or even stretch your legs, lie down or sit," she added.

"Despite the conclusion of the interrogation and the transfer of the case to the court, detainees continue to be interrogated and are not informed about the extension of the arrest warrant,' Daemi said.

Some reports indicate that at least 18,000 people, including many women, have been arrested in the brutal state crackdown on the protest movement that started more than two months ago. IranWire has identified 577 of the arrested women; some of whom have been released on bail.

Iran has been gripped by protests demanding more freedom and women's rights since the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in the custody of Tehran’s morality police in September. Amini had been arrested for an alleged breach of the country’s strict dress code.

Iranian security forces have responded to the current wave of protests by unleashing a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 440 people, including dozens of children, according to activists.