Exclusive: IranWire Investigations Confirm Torture and Overcrowding in Prison System

Located 12 kilometers from the Ahvaz road to Masjed Soleyman city, next to to Shiban village, Shiban’s local prison stands as a grim symbol of Iran's penal system. 

Housing over 5,000 inmates, well past its designed capacity of 3,500, it has gained notoriety as one of the country's most perilous prisons.

Now an investigations by IranWire has unearthed troubling revelations regarding the persistence of archaic torture methods at the prison. Practices reminiscent of the 1980s – such as the infamous “coffin,” in which inmates are held in coffins – continue to be used by guards.

And the head of Intelligence Protection at Shiban prison, Abdul Hossein Gholamnejad, has further amplified concerns by establishing a new ward, called “Tavabin,” within the complex.

Hell on the Oil Field

Shiban prison, close to major Iranian oil fields, is notorious for its appalling health standards and the harsh treatment of prisoners. 

Ahmadreza Azadeh serves as its head, having previously held management positions in other prisons such as Dezful, Behbahan, and as deputy of the former Karun prison in Ahvaz.

Made up of nine wards, including two large halls designated as the 6th and 7th wards with about 1,700 individuals in each of the large halls.

Ward 5 of the prison is labeled as the "security" ward and primarily houses political prisoners. Despite its intended capacity of about 150 people, during times of protests and heightened arrests, up to 250 individuals have been squeezed into this section. And the average of 35 to 40 people held per cell means that a lack of beds forces many to sleep on the floor.

Within Ward 5, only two card-operated phone booths are available for use, with one often out of order, resulting in a severe shortage of communication facilities. 

Surveillance in Ward 5 is extensive. Five cameras monitor cells, corridors and the courtyard, though the toilet and bathroom areas remain unmonitored.

While Iranian Arab activists constitute the majority of political prisoners in Ward 5, non-Arab political detainees are sometimes also held in the section. 

One such prisoner is Gholamhossein Kalbi who is serving a life sentence for alleged involvement with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. He has been behind bars for the past 23 years without a single day of leave. 

Shiban’s Ward 8, with overcrowding and a population three times larger than Ward 5, is predominantly used to incarcerate prisoners of conscience including individuals targeted for their religious beliefs or other affiliations.

Disease and Hunger are Rampant

Former political prisoners interviewed by IranWire expressed serious concerns about the spread of illness due to poor sanitation in Shiban prison.

Describing the one clinic in the prison – which has to serve 5,000 inmates – as a “slaughterhouse,” the former prisoners expressed concern over the situation.

An Iranian Arab activist told IranWire about pervasive hunger among political detainees which was exacerbated by the abhorrent quality of prison meals.

Inmates are reluctant to eat the food due to fears over contracting digestive ailments and prefer to endure starvation rather than risk their health.

Sources also corroborated reports of the prison store operating under a pseudo “mafia" regime with item prices inflated to five times their market value.

Political prisoners often also come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and are unable to afford food or other basics from the prison store.

"We were compelled to rely on each other," one former prisoner said, highlighting the pervasive distrust in food safety and healthcare. 

Instances of illness go untreated in the general atmosphere of neglect and inmates avoid seeking medical attention from the dangerous medical clinic except in dire emergencies.

Prisoners serving long sentences face various health problems, including dental issues, prostate problems, and serious chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis.

Despite their suffering, access to medical leave is routinely denied by prison officials.

Throwback to the 1980s: Shiban’s new Tavabin Ward

In 2018, officials at Shiban prison, spearheaded by Abdul Hossein Gholamnejad, inaugurated the new Tavabin Ward. “Tavabin” refers to a group of individuals who publicly repent for past actions.

According to individuals interviewed by IranWire, rumors swirl in Shiban prison which suggest that Gholamnejad was once a member of Saddam Hussein's army during the Iran-Iraq war and was captured by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps during the conflict and "repented."

The genesis of "repentance" dates back to the 1980s when Iranian political prisoners, broken by relentless interrogations and coercion from prison authorities, were compelled to renounce their beliefs and actions. 

While forced repentance was practiced across Iranian prisons, its roots are attributed to Asadollah Lajevari, a former head of Evin Prison and a Tehran revolutionary prosecutor.

During the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, Iraqi prisoners of war, subjected to torture and coercion, capitulated and expressed remorse for their actions. 

Some remained in Iran indefinitely, assuming new identities, and even joining the security forces to suppress dissent among the Arab populace in Khuzestan province.

A faction of these former prisoners of war formed the Tavabin Battalion, as revealed by government-affiliated director Masoud Dehnamaki in 2013. 

Numbering 15,000, they fought against Saddam Hussein's regime to showcase their loyalty to their adopted homeland.

IranWire's sources reveal that the Tavabin Ward of Shiban prison operates under Gholamnejad's direct supervision. 

Prisoners who undergo the “repentance” process are mandated to participate in congregational prayers three times every day. 

Moreover, interrogators periodically visit the prison to entice inmates with promises of sentence reductions or amnesty. Such pledges are rarely honored. 

The Coffin

At least three former political prisoners held in Shiban have also confirmed to IranWire the ongoing use of he “coffin” torture method.

One former political prisoner, incarcerated in Shiban prison in the 2010s and subjected to the "coffin" torture twice during his interrogations, described the ordeal to IranWire. 

"The coffin is an iron box, very shallow, which makes it impossible to sit inside. We referred to it as the Iron Coffin. 

"I was confined in it twice. The prisoner's hands and feet are bound, making movement virtually impossible. 

"With a height of less than 50 cm, even someone of average height, say 185 cm, cannot fit. The sensation is agonizing, leading to a loss of consciousness. 

"During my first confinement, I endured half an hour, but the second time, I fainted and lost track of time, as well and when I was released."

IranWire's sources further verify the prevalence of additional forms of torture, such as simulated executions and water hose torture, within Ahvaz security detention centers.