15. Dezember 2021

Kurzbeschreibungen zu den in dieser Anfragebeantwortung verwendeten Quellen sowie Ausschnitte mit Informationen aus diesen Quellen finden Sie im Anhang.

Allgemeine Haftbedingungen

Die Haftbedingungen im Iran im Jahr 2020 seien in vielen Einrichtungen „grausam und unmenschlich“, schreibt Amnesty International (AI) im Report 2020/2021 zur weltweiten Lage der Menschenrechte. Der Bericht setzt fort:

„Die Gefangenen litten unter überfüllten Zellen, begrenztem Zugang zu warmem Wasser, unhygienischen Bedingungen, unzureichender Ernährung und Trinkwasserversorgung, Mangel an Liegemöglichkeiten und sanitären Anlagen, Ungeziefer und schlechter Belüftung, wodurch sie einem erhöhten Risiko ausgesetzt waren, sich mit dem Coronavirus zu infizieren.“ (AI, 7. April 2021, S. 146)

Im August 2021 veröffentlicht AI die Analyse von 16 Videoclips, die im selben Monat von der Gruppe „Edalat-e Ali“ (Alis Gerechtigkeit) aus dem Evin-Gefängnis geleakt worden seien. Die Videos würden von Gefängniswärtern geschlagene oder anderweitig misshandelte Insass·innen, überfüllte Gefängniszellen, Angriffe auf Insass·innen durch andere Insass·innen, Selbstverletzung von Insass·innen und einen Fall von Einzelhaft unter unmenschlichen Bedingungen zeigen (AI, 25. August 2021).

Mit Stand Juni 2020 hätten iranische Gefängnisse 211.000 Gefangene untergebracht, was das 2,5-fache der offiziellen Kapazitäten betrage, so ein Bericht des UN-Sonderberichterstatters zu Menschenrechten im Iran vom Jänner 2021. Überfüllung und Hygienemangel seien schon lange ein Problem in iranischen Gefängnissen, was die Einhaltung von COVID-19-Maßnahmen verunmögliche (UNGA, 11. Jänner 2021, S. 13). Es herrsche zudem ein Mangel an sauberem Wasser und es seien nicht genug Betten vorhanden. Die Ausbreitung von COVID-19 habe zu Toten unter den Gefangenen geführt (UNGA, 16. Juli 2021, S. 8; siehe auch USDOS, 30. März 2021, Section 1.c). Im Juli 2020 seien offizielle Schreiben durchgesickert, die enthüllt hätten, dass Gefängnisverwaltungen wiederholt „Lieferungen von Desinfektionsmitteln, Schutzausrüstung und anderen medizinischen Produkten“ beim Gesundheitsministerium beantragt hätten, was jedoch unbeachtet geblieben sei. Gefangene hätten sich über die Anwendung von Bleichmitteln zu Desinfektionszwecken durch die Behörden beschwert, „was die schlechte Luftqualität in den Haftanstalten noch verschlimmerte und zu schwerem Husten, Engegefühl in der Brust und Asthmaanfällen führte.“ Der mangelnde Schutz von Gefangenen vor COVID-19 habe im März und April 2020 landesweit zu Aufständen geführt, die darin resultiert hätten, dass Insass·innen mit scharfer Munition, Metallkugeln und Tränengas angegriffen worden seien (AI, 7. April 2021, S. 146; siehe auch AI, 31. Juli 2020). Insgesamt hätten sich die Haftbedingungen aufgrund der COVID-19-Pandemie verschlechtert (USDOS, 30. März 2021, Section 1.c).

Haftbedingungen in Frauentrakten und Frauengefängnissen

Es finden sich Berichte zu den Zuständen in verschiedenen Frauentrakten und Frauengefängnissen. So wird von einem mangelhaften Heizsystem, geschlossenem Kindergarten und unzureichenden hygienischen und sanitären Bedingungen im Frauentrakt des Gefängnisses in Kachooie berichtet (HRANA, 19. November 2021), oder von unzureichenden Quarantänemaßnahmen und fehlenden Klimaanlagen im Gefängnis Lakan (HRANA, 25. Juni 2021). Mehrere Berichte beziehen sich auf das Frauengefängnis in Ghartschak, südöstlich von Teheran, das zu den schlimmsten Frauengefängnissen des Iran zähle (RFE/RL, 15. Oktober 2021). Laut einem Artikel von Al Arabiya gelte das Gefängnis, das in der Wüste liege, aufgrund der unmenschlichen medizinischen und psychologischen Bedingungen als das gefährlichste und schlechteste Gefängnis des Iran (Al Arabiya, 28. Juli 2020). Trotz der kleinen Fläche würden sehr viele Gefangene in dem Gefängnis leben. In den sieben Abschnitten des Gefängnisses würden auf einer Fläche von 400 Quadratmetern insgesamt 2.000 Gefangene leben, wodurch einer Gefangenen 20 Quadratzentimeter zur Verfügung stünden. Man würde die Gefangenen nicht nach Schweregrad der begangenen Verstöße aufteilen, was zu Gewaltvorfällen führe. Es gebe keine Räume und nur eine große Halle, in der 600 Betten stünden. 1.400 Gefangene und einige Kinder müssten daher auf dem Boden schlafen. Die Gefangenen seien verschiedenen Formen der Folter, darunter Vergewaltigungen, ausgesetzt. Die Gefängnisaufsicht würde Gefangene schlagen und beleidigen. Wenn sich Gefangene aufgrund der schlechten Bedingungen, etwa der schlechten Nahrungsqualität oder des Mangels an medizinischer Versorgung, auflehnen, würden sie gefoltert werden, indem man sie mit einer psychisch kranken Gefangenen zusammen isoliere (Al Arabiya, 28. Juli 2020; siehe auch HRANA, 2. März 2020). Es habe monatelang kein Warmwasser gegeben. Im Gefängnis würden Frauen nicht nach Schwere der Verbrechen getrennt untergebracht. Es gebe Berichte über Vergewaltigungen von jüngeren Insassinnen durch ältere Insassinnen, die Gefängnisverwaltung würde solche Berichte jedoch ignorieren (HRANA, 2. März 2020). Es gebe nicht genug Essen für alle. Für gewöhnlich gebe es Spaghetti, gekochte Kartoffeln und Brot. Viele Gefangene würden daher unter schwerem Vitaminmangel leiden. Käme es zu einem Streit zwischen den Gefangenen, würden die Gefängnisaufseher·innen nicht eingreifen, was zu Eskalationen und gelegentlich zum Tod von Insassinnen führe (Al Arabiya, 28. Juli 2020; siehe auch HRANA, 2. März 2020).

Der UN-Sonderberichterstatter zu Menschenrechten im Iran berichtet im Juli 2021 von einer großen Sorge aufgrund der schlechten hygienischen Zustände und des bedenklichen Infrastrukturmangels im Gefängnis Ghartschak. Es gebe kein angemessenes Abwassersystem, was zu einer großen Verschmutzung führe. Auch die Belüftungs- und Heizinfrastruktur sei mangelhaft. Auf 100 bis 150 Gefangene pro Trakt kämen drei bis vier funktionierende Toiletten (UNGA, 16. Juli 2021, S. 8). Am 22. September 2021 berichtet HRANA vom Tod einer an COVID-19 erkrankten Insassin mit Diabetes in Quarantäne aufgrund von Vernachlässigung ihrer medizinischen Versorgung durch die Gefängnisverwaltung (HRANA, 22. September 2021).

Das Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) berichtete bereits im August 2019 von einem offenen Brief, der von 200 Insassinnen des fünften Traktes des Ghartschak-Gefängnisses verfasst und an den Leiter der staatlichen Gefängnisadministration in Teheran adressiert worden sei. In diesem Brief hätten die Insassinnen die unmenschlichen Bedingungen des Gefängnisses angeprangert. Die meisten Frauen könnten sich die Deckung ihres Grundbedarfs an Nahrung, Trinkwasser, Kleidung und Hygieneprodukten nicht leisten, hieße es darin. Die Verfasserinnen des Briefes seien in den Hungerstreik getreten, um unter anderem gegen den mangelhaften Zugang zu Trinkwasser, das ungenießbare Essen sowie die unzureichenden sanitären und hygienischen Zustände zu protestieren. Manche Insassinnen hätten aufgrund der Situation begonnen, sich selbst zu schlagen und Unmengen Pillen zu schlucken, um sich zu beruhigen, oder für andere zu arbeiten. CHRI habe überdies Interviews geführt, die offengelegt hätten, dass den Insassinnen unter anderem der Zugang zu angemessener medizinischer Versorgung verwehrt bliebe und sie Gewaltübergriffen durch das Gefängnispersonal sowie andere Insassinnen ausgesetzt seien (CHRI, 30. August 2019).

Radio RFE/RL schreibt am 15. Oktober 2021 von der inhaftierten Aktivistin Sepideh Gholiyan, die nach ihrer eigenen Inhaftierung im Frauentrakt des Zentralgefängnisses der Stadt Buschehr in einer Reihe von Tweets über Fälle von Missbrauch von dortigen Gefangenen berichtet habe. Dazu würden Fälle psychischer Folter und kollektiver Bestrafung für die Nichtbefolgung von Regeln zählen sowie Fälle, in denen inhaftierte Frauen im Austausch mit sexuellen Diensten Gefälligkeiten zugesprochen worden seien oder sie gezwungen worden seien, sich vor anderen Gefangenen und dem Gefängnispersonal gänzlich zu entkleiden. Die Quelle erwähnt des Weiteren erzwungene Eheschließungen auf Zeit mit männlichen Gefangenen (RFE/RL, 15. Oktober 2021).

Das Abdorrahman Boroumand Center (ABC) veröffentlicht im September 2021 diese ins Englische übersetzten Schilderungen, die Gholian während einer kurzen Haftunterbrechung über die sozialen Medien Twitter und Instagram veröffentlicht habe. Als sich eine Insassin geweigert habe, Unterwäsche zu tragen, seien alle Insassinnen mitbestraft worden. Der betroffenen Insassin sei vor den Augen der anderen weiblichen Gefangenen die Kleidung vom Leib gerissen worden. Die anderen Gefangenen seien gezwungen worden, ihre eigene Unterwäsche auszuziehen und in einen Müllsack zu werfen. Dem sei ein wochenlanges Verbot des Tragens von Unterwäsche gefolgt, selbst für Frauen in der Menstruationsphase. Eine andere Gefangene, die außerhalb der dafür vorgesehenen Zeiten geduscht habe, sei im Gefängnishof von der für den Trakt zuständigen Person mithilfe der Sozialarbeiterin entkleidet und mit Milch und abgefülltem Wasser gewaschen worden. Die anderen Gefangenen seien unter Androhung von Strafe gezwungen worden, zuzusehen und Buh zu rufen. Eine weitere Gefangene sei trotz abgeschlossener Befragungs- und Ermittlungsphase, koordiniert durch die für den Frauentrakt zuständige Person, mehrmals in die Ermittlungsbüros gebracht worden, wo sie Beamten sexuelle Dienste erweisen musste. Die für den Trakt zuständige Person koordiniere des Weiteren zeitlich limitierte Ehen mit männlichen Gefangenen im Austausch gegen Geld. Gholian habe den zuständigen Behörden insgesamt 20 Missbrauchsfälle gemeldet und mit Stand September keine Antwort erhalten. Frauen, die sich auflehnen würden, müssten laut Gholian unter anderem mit verstärkter Folter, der Untersuchung von Geschlechtsteilen vor den Augen anderer Insassinnen und dem gesamten Gefängnispersonal, Isolation und sexuellen Übergriffen rechnen (ABC, 9. September 2021).

Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am 15. Dezember 2021)

·      ABC – Abdorrahman Boroumand Center: "A Place Close to the End of the World", Sepideh Qolian's Account of the Women's Ward at Bushehr Center Prison, 9. September 2021
https://www.iranrights.org/library/document/3871

·      AI - Amnesty International: Iran: Leaked official letters reveal state denial of COVID-19 crisis in prisons, 31. Juli 2020
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/07/iran-leaked-letters-reveal-state-denial-of-covid19-crisis-in-prisons/

·      AI – Amnesty International: Report 2020/2021, Zur weltweiten Lage der Menschenrechte, 7. April 2021
https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/POL1032022021GERMAN.pdf

·      AI – Amnesty International: Iran: Leaked video footage from Evin prison offers rare glimpse of cruelty against prisoners, 25. August 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2058976.html

·      Al Arabiya: Inside Qarchak Prison: ‘Iran’s most dangerous for women’, human rights report issued, 28. Juli 2020
https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2016/09/28/Inside-Qarchak-Prison-Iran-s-most-dangerous-prison-for-women-

·      CHRI – Center for Human Rights in Iran: Prisoners in Iran’s Gharchak Prison for Women Protest Inhumane Living Conditions, 30. August 2019
https://iranhumanrights.org/2019/08/prisoners-in-irans-gharchak-prison-for-women-protest-inhumane-living-conditions/

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Qarchak Prison; a List of Political Prisoners and Prison Conditions, 2. März 2020
https://www.en-hrana.org/qarchak-prison-a-list-of-political-prisoners-and-prison-conditions/?hilite=Qarchak

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Lakan Prison Officials Turn off Air Conditioning in Women’s Ward and Cut Inmates’ Quarantines Short, 25. Juni 2021
https://www.en-hrana.org/lakan-prison-officials-turn-off-air-conditioning-in-womens-ward-and-cut-inmates-quarantines-short/?hilite=Prison+Condition

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Inmate Dies of COVID After Facing Medical Negligence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, 22. September 2021
https://www.en-hrana.org/inmate-dies-of-covid-after-facing-medical-negligence-in-qarchak-prison-in-varamin/?hilite=Qarchak

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Inmates in Women’s Ward of Kachooie Prison Face Poor Conditions, 19. November 2021
https://www.en-hrana.org/inmates-in-womens-ward-of-kachooie-prison-face-poor-conditions/?hilite=Conditions

·      RFE/RL – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: 'Threatened With Death And Rape': Iranian Activist Back Behind Bars After Exposing Prisoner Abuse, 15. Oktober 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2062416.html

·      UNGA – UN General Assembly: Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman [A/HRC/46/50], 11. Jänner 2021
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3899852/files/A_HRC_46_50-EN.pdf

·      UNGA – UN General Assembly: Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Note by the Secretary-General; Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman [A/76/160], 16. Juli 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2063250/A_76_160_E.pdf

·      USDOS – US Department of State: 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Iran, 30. März 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2048099.html

Anhang: Quellenbeschreibungen und Informationen aus ausgewählten Quellen

Das Abdorrahman Boroumand Center (ABC) ist laut Selbstbeschreibung eine nichtstaatliche gemeinnützige Organisation mit Sitz in Washington D. C., die sich für die Förderung der Menschenrechte und der Demokratie im Iran einsetzt.

·      ABC - Abdorrahman Boroumand Center: "A Place Close to the End of the World", Sepideh Qolian's Account of the Women's Ward at Bushehr Center Prison, 9. September 2021
https://www.iranrights.org/library/document/3871

„Qolian published the following text on her personal Twitter and Instagram accounts during a brief furlough from prison:

This is a place close to the end of the world: The Women’s Ward of the [city of] Bushehr Central Prison. When I was first exiled here last year, I had a feeling I would face something resembling a forgotten Hell, but I could not have imagined the harshness that exists in this Prison in my wildest dreams. The women incarcerated in this Ward are subjected to the most savage forms of torture, and are kept in the most inhuman of conditions, and their crime is simply that they are women and inmates. […] This report (with assumed names to protect the identity of the women) contains short scenes of the conditions in which the women inmates of Bushehr live their days.

Zahra is an Afghan woman who has fled death and the Taliban with her child, and is now taking part in a symbolic burial [of her son] arranged by the prison guards in Bushehr Central Prison’s yard. From the prison guards’ perspective, Ahmad, who has gone to prison in his mother’s arms, is an illegitimate child. Zahra’s child has been wrapped in a Kafan (white shroud used to bury the dead), just so he can be scared into sleeping earlier at night. Zahra is dumbfounded and as soon as her son is taken out of the shroud, she lunges toward him and beats him up and says to the others: ‘I’ll take care of him myself. Please leave him alone.’

The person in charge of the Ward has determined that wearing under garments should be mandatory. Ma’edeh refuses and does not want to wear a bra all night and day. In order to punish her, the Ward’s current social worker forces all the inmates to surrender their undergarment. She calls them ‘the town prostitutes’ and threatens that she will take their undergarments by force if they don’t take them off and turn them over voluntarily. At row call, and in front of the horror-stricken eyes of the other women inmates, they tear Ma’edeh’s clothes off (just because she had not taken off her undergarment). The inmates continued to pay for Ma’edeh refusal: They line everyone up and force them to take their bra and underwear off and put them in a trash bag the social worker is holding. From that point on, wearing undergarments was prohibited for weeks, even when the women had their period.

Inmates can take showers at Bushehr Prison only at specific times. Sahar took a shower outside of the prescribed times and she must now pay for her actions by being ‘cleansed’ in the middle of the yard by the person in charge of the Ward. With the help of the Ward’s social worker, the person in charge of the Ward takes all of Sahar’s clothes off in the yard, and washes her with milk and bottled water. The other inmates are forced to watch the scene and boo. If anyone turns away, they will be deprived of phone calls. Dozens of eyes, angry, baffled, and disconcerted eyes, are watching the woman’s naked and shivering body. We are all thinking how defenseless and alone we are.

For women incarcerated at Bushehr Prison, the law of mandatory Hijab is implemented at a level far beyond what is customary at other prisons. Chador and complete covering is mandatory at row call, in the hallway, and in the yard. A woman inmate must wear her Hijab everywhere except in her bed.

Ameneh is returning from the detention center. Although the investigation and interrogation phase is over, she has been taken to investigation centers several times, but not to be questioned. She is turned over to the officers, in coordination with the person in charge of the Ward, in order to render sexual services. In here, a lot can be accomplished when coordinated with the person in charge of the Ward, things such as dispatching women who receive no financial support from their families to the male inmates of the Financial [Crimes] Ward to become their temporary Siqeh (temporary marriage for a determined period in exchange for a specific sum of money).

This is only 5 of the 20 cases I have reported to the authorities, orally and in writing, in connection with the Bushehr Prison Women’s Ward, and I have heard nothing back but a deathly silence. And this is what awaits those who object: More intense torture; threat of examination of the sexual organ in front of all the other inmates and the entire prison staff; beatings; quarantine; bringing over the guards, torture, and sexual assault; cutting off phone privileges and visitations; and going on leave.“ (ABC, 9. September 2021)

Amnesty International (AI) ist eine internationale Menschenrechtsorganisation.

·      AI - Amnesty International: Iran: Leaked official letters reveal state denial of COVID-19 crisis in prisons, 31. Juli 2020
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/07/iran-leaked-letters-reveal-state-denial-of-covid19-crisis-in-prisons/

„Leaked official letters newly obtained by Amnesty International reveal that the Iranian government has ignored repeated pleas by senior officials responsible for managing Iran’s prisons for additional resources to control the spread of COVID-19 and treat infected prisoners.

The organization reviewed copies of four letters signed by officials at Iran’s Prisons Organization, which operates under the supervision of the judiciary, to the Ministry of Health, raising the alarm over serious shortages of protective equipment, disinfectant products, and essential medical devices. The Ministry of Health failed to respond, and Iran’s prisons remain catastrophically unequipped for outbreaks.“ (AI, 31. Juli 2020)

·      AI - Amnesty International: Report 2020/2021, Zur weltweiten Lage der Menschenrechte, 7. April 2021
https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/POL1032022021GERMAN.pdf

„Recht auf Gesundheit – Gefangene

Die Haftbedingungen in vielen Gefängnissen und Hafteinrichtungen blieben 2020 grausam und unmenschlich. Die Gefangenen litten unter überfüllten Zellen, begrenztem Zugang zu warmem Wasser, unhygienischen Bedingungen, unzureichender Ernährung und Trinkwasserversorgung, Mangel an Liegemöglichkeiten und sanitären Anlagen, Ungeziefer und schlechter Belüftung, wodurch sie einem erhöhten Risiko ausgesetzt waren, sich mit dem Coronavirus zu infizieren.

Von Februar bis Mai ließen die Behörden als Reaktion auf die Corona-Pandemie etwa 128.000 Gefangene vorübergehend frei und begnadigten 10.000 weitere. Offizielle Schreiben, die im Juli durchsickerten, enthüllten, dass das Gesundheitsministerium wiederholt Anträge der Gefängnisverwaltungen ignorierte, die um Lieferungen von Desinfektionsmitteln, Schutzausrüstung und anderen medizinischen Produkten gebeten hatten. Einige Gefangene beschwerten sich darüber, dass die Behörden unsachgemäß Bleichmittel einsetzten, um Oberflächen zu desinfizieren, was die schlechte Luftqualität in den Haftanstalten noch verschlimmerte und zu schwerem Husten, Engegefühl in der Brust und Asthmaanfällen führte.

Im März und April protestierten Gefangene im ganzen Land mit Hungerstreiks und Aufständen, weil die Behörden nicht in der Lage waren, sie vor Corona-Infektionen zu schützen. Die Behörden reagierten mit rechtswidrigen Mitteln. Sie schlugen die Inhaftierten und beschossen sie mit scharfer Munition, Metallkugeln und Tränengas, um die Proteste niederzuschlagen. Dies führte dazu, dass am 31. März im Sheiban-Gefängnis in Ahwaz in der Provinz Khuzestan mehrere Gefangene, die der arabischen Ahwazi-Minderheit angehörten, getötet und viele weitere verletzt wurden.“ (AI, 7. April 2021, S. 146)

·      AI – Amnesty International: Iran: Leaked video footage from Evin prison offers rare glimpse of cruelty against prisoners, 25. August 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2058976.html

„The organization has analysed 16 leaked video clips, obtained from Iranian independent media outlets, which offer shocking visual evidence of beatings, sexual harassment, and deliberate neglect and ill-treatment of those in need of medical care, which Amnesty International has documented for years. The videos also reaffirm concerns around chronic overcrowding and solitary confinement in cruel and inhumane prison conditions.

“This disturbing footage offers a rare glimpse of the cruelty regularly meted out to prisoners in Iran. It is shocking to see what goes on inside the walls of Evin prison, but sadly the abuse depicted in these leaked video clips is just the tip of the iceberg of Iran’s torture epidemic,” said Heba Morayef, Middle East and North Africa Regional Director at Amnesty International.

Away from public view, Iranian security officials routinely subject men, women and children behind bars to torture or other ill-treatment, particularly when undergoing interrogations in detention centres run by the ministry of intelligence, the Revolutionary Guards, and the investigation unit of Iran’s police (Agahi).

Methods of torture in Iran documented by Amnesty International over the past years include floggings, electric shocks, mock executions, waterboarding, sexual violence, suspension, force-feeding of chemical substances, and deliberate deprivation of medical care.

Since 22 August, independent media outlets based outside Iran have published a growing number of leaked videos received from a group calling itself “Edalat-e Ali” (meaning Ali’s justice), which has hacked the security cameras of Tehran’s Evin Prison. […]

Of the 16 video clips reviewed by Amnesty International, seven show prison guards beating or otherwise ill-treating prisoners; three show overcrowded prison rooms; three show incidents of assault against inmates by other inmates; two show incidents of self-harm; and one shows a solitary cell with cruel and inhumane conditions.“ (AI, 25. August 2021)

Al Arabiya ist ein in Dubai ansässiger arabischer Nachrichtensender.

·      Al Arabiya: Inside Qarchak Prison: ‘Iran’s most dangerous for women’, human rights report issued, 28. Juli 2020
https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2016/09/28/Inside-Qarchak-Prison-Iran-s-most-dangerous-prison-for-women-

„The Qarchak women’s prison located in a desert, east of Tehran, is known as the most dangerous and worst prison in Iran due to its inhumane medical and psychological conditions. The Human Rights’ Activists News Agency (HRANA) published a detailed report about the prison saying it held the worst reputation among women’s prisons in Iran. The prison is located in a barren desert and hosts a big number of inmates despite its small size. The prison does not divide inmates according to the crimes committed and this leads to violence thus, worsening the situation as they lack medical services and are subjected to torture.

Number of prisoners and prison’s area

According to the report, the prison’s seven sections include more than 2,000 prisoners where 200-300 prisoners are held in each section. Some of these prisoners have children with them while the number of prisoners increases every year. The entire area of the prison does not exceed 1,500 meters while the area of the sections, administration and the rest of the prison’s parts does not exceed 400 meters, meaning that each inmate’s space is about 20 centimeters. There are no rooms in the prison but there is one hall that has 600 beds. The other prisoners, who number around 1,400 and some children have to sleep on the floor.

Torture and rape

According to the report, inmates are subjected to all forms of torture which also include rape. The prison’s management insults and beats up prisoners thus causing and worsening psychological problems. The prison’s management punishes inmates who protest the prison’s conditions, such as the bad quality of food or lack of medical services, by sending them to solitary confinement with another psychologically disturbed prisoner in order to torture them.

Food

Food is one of the prison’s major problems as the food is not enough for everyone. Prisoners are usually served spaghetti, boiled potatoes and bread. As a result, many prisoners suffer from severe vitamins’ deficiency. A source close to one of the prisoners said the prison’s management threatens prisoners of holding them in solitary confinement if they object to the lack of food or to the prison’s bad conditions. He added that if a fight happens between the inmates, the guards do not interfere, and the fight thus escalates resulting in someone’s death sometimes.“ (Al Arabiya, 28. Juli 2020)

Das Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) ist ein Zusammenschluss von Journalist·innen, Menschenrechtsverteidiger·innen und unabhängiger Aktivist·innen aus der Zivilgesellschaft sowie Menschenrechtsverteidiger·innen im Iran, der über die Menschenrechtslage im Iran berichtet und diese dokumentiert.

·      CHRI – Center for Human Rights in Iran: Prisoners in Iran’s Gharchak Prison for Women Protest Inhumane Living Conditions, 30. August 2019
https://iranhumanrights.org/2019/08/prisoners-in-irans-gharchak-prison-for-women-protest-inhumane-living-conditions/

„Two hundred inmates in Ward 5 of Gharchak Prison for women in the Iranian city of Varamin have sent an open letter to the head of the State Prisons Organization in Tehran Province protesting the prison’s inhumane living conditions.

'Most of us…cannot afford to meet our basic needs such as food, drinking water, clothes and sanitary products,” said the August 17, 2019, Persian-language letter translated by the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). “Don’t we prisoners have basic rights?‘

The letter noted that the signatories had begun refusing their lunch portions to protest the prison’s lack of accessible drinking water, inedible meals, insufficient sanitation and hygiene services, and unaffordable commissary items.

[…] “These problems are invisible pressures that have forced some of our fellow inmates to beat themselves, consume fistfuls of pills to calm their minds, and work for others to make money… Every day we repeat this question: How are we going to afford to stay alive?”

Interviews conducted by CHRI have revealed that Gharchak prisoners are also being denied proper medical services and face violence perpetrated by prison authorities as well as other inmates.” (CHRI, 30. August 2019)

Human Rights Activists in Iran (auch HRAI und HRA) ist eine nicht-politische und nicht-staatliche Organisation, die sich aus Anwälten zusammensetzt, die sich für die Menschenrechte im Iran einsetzen, und im Jahr 2005 gegründet wurde.

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Qarchak Prison; a List of Political Prisoners and Prison Conditions, 2. März 2020
https://www.en-hrana.org/qarchak-prison-a-list-of-political-prisoners-and-prison-conditions/?hilite=Qarchak

„Qarchak Women’s Prison also known as Shahre Rey Penitentiary is located in Varamin and has 11 wards. Each ward in this prison holds several female prisoners, disregarding the rules of segregation of prisoners by age and crime. […]

The lack of medical care, dental care, and regular checkups, poor hygiene, and a great number of prisoners has caused several issues. The poor quality of food, drug use and easily accessibility narcotics, not isolating prisoners with a contagious disease from others, rape, and negligence of the prison authorities are some of the issues of this prison. […]

The prison hosts a large number of inmates despite its small size. The prison does not separate inmates according to the crimes committed and this leads to violence; thus, worsening the situation as they are not offered medical services and are subjected to torture.

More than 130 prisoners of this prison are infected with HIV or Hepatitis and are kept in the same ward with others, not having access to medical treatment or medicine. These inmates are usually charged with crimes such as prostitution or drug felony. They threaten other inmates by self-harming with a sharp object or threaten to infect other prisoners by injuring them with the same sharp object or their body. Other prisoners filed several complaints about this issue but were told by the head of the Medical Ward that these diseases are not transferable, and the routine to keep these prisoners with others is practiced all over the world.

The Quarantine Ward of the prison was shut down months ago and therefore, new inmates enter general wards without being tested for diseases. Also, if by any chance, they are tested a few days after they entered, they usually return to the ward from the Medical Ward regardless of the test result being positive or negative. […] A prisoner who was released recently from Qarchak Prison told HRANA that six women inmates have Scabies which is a contagious disease. She added that other inmates asked the prison authorities several times to transfer these six women to a separate ward since this disease is easily contagious through skin touch like shaking hands, sheets, or even from their clothes. The prison authorities’ responses were that this disease is not contagious.

Number of prisoners and prison’s area - According to the report, the prison’s seven sections contain more than 1400 prisoners with 120-300 prisoners held in each section, although the capacity of each section is 100 inmates. Some of these prisoners are incarcerated along with their children while the number of prisoners increases every year. Each ward has 10 cubicles where each has four triple bunk beds. Several prisoners have to sleep on the floor.

Food - Food is one of the prison’s major problems as the food has a low quality and prison commissary sells low-quality food at a high price. The prison foods contain an unknown ingredient that causes extreme sourness in foods. The high level of acidity of these foods could cause hormonal diseases and other issues. To enrich the prison food with protein, oil cake (its common use is in animal feeding) has been replaced as the main ingredient. […]

Hygiene - At least 12 toilets and 10 bathrooms are in each ward. They are always not enough due to the high number of prisoners, facilities being out of order, and shortage of water. Cleaning the prison is prisoners’ responsibility but due to the lack of cleaning products, rubber gloves, and trash bags, inmates run out of these stuff in the first few days of the month and it leaves the bathrooms dirty with a lot of trash. As a result, infectious and skin diseases are common in this prison due to poor hygiene as well, roofless bathrooms increase the occurrence of cold and pneumonia during cold seasons.

In addition, there is no hot water running for the past two months although hot water used to run for one hour in the morning and one hour at night. The rest of the day, prisoners can only take a cold bath. Moreover, the prison water is coming from wells and it is not purified. The water is not proper for drinking and using it for bathing caused women-related diseases especially during menstruation. Even this water was shut off for a few hours in some days and sewer water comes up. Prisoners should buy drinking water from the prison commissary at a high price.

Overall, there are mothers and children in this prison who are suffering from nutrition deficiency, lack of access to child clothes, and poor hygiene. For example, in February 2019 during the prison wardens’ violent attack to this prison after the prisoners protested not having access to medical treatment and other issues in the prison, tear gas was fired in the prison and a 20-day old infant lost his/her life. […]

Air condition - Only half of each ward has a heater which forces the prisoner to walk in blankets. The only response the prisoners get when they complain about it is to put on more clothes which leads to another issue which is the difficulty of access to clothes. Bringing clothes to prison was forbidden and inmates should obtain their clothes from the prison commissary. The price of clothes is double or even triple of it outside of prison. Prisoners should purchase their pillow and blanket and the price of the cheapest pillow is 35 thousand Toman.

Because of housing more prisoners than the capacity, the air ventilation and the number of toilets is below the required standards. […]

Rape - In addition, several reports indicate that younger prisoners are raped by older prisoners who have more violent crimes. Prison authorities neglect these reports and even stop checking on the wards which have a high rate of violence. Atena Daemi and Monireh Arabshahi wrote open letters about their experience in these prison conditions especially sexual assaults and rapes.“ (HRANA, 2. März 2020)

·      HRANA - Human Rights Activists News Agency: Lakan Prison Officials Turn off Air Conditioning in Women’s Ward and Cut Inmates’ Quarantines Short, 25. Juni 2021
https://www.en-hrana.org/lakan-prison-officials-turn-off-air-conditioning-in-womens-ward-and-cut-inmates-quarantines-short/?hilite=Prison+Condition

„Following the transfer of 9 new female prisoners to the quarantine ward of Lakan Prison in Rasht, 15 residents of the quarantine ward were transferred to the public ward before the end of their quarantine period. According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, air conditioning in the women’s ward was also turned off for at least 8 hours during the day. The lack of air conditioning, coupled with steadily rising summer temperatures have created conditions under which it is nearly impossible for the inmates to wear masks. According to an informed source, after protesting, prisoners were told that they would be sent directly to public wards without quarantine, even if other new entrances arrived.“ (HRANA, 25. Juni 2021)

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Inmate Dies of COVID After Facing Medical Negligence in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, 22. September 2021
https://www.en-hrana.org/inmate-dies-of-covid-after-facing-medical-negligence-in-qarchak-prison-in-varamin/?hilite=Qarchak

„Today, Wednesday, September 22, Ms. Giti Haj Rahimi died of COVID in the quarantine section of Ward 9 of Qarchak Prison in Varamin after facing medical negligence from prison authorities. According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists, Haj Rahimi had been convicted for financial crimes. HRANA has verified Ms. Haj Rahimi’s identity. Ms. Haj Rahimi, who had been serving her sentence in Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison, was recently transferred to a solitary confinement cell for quarantine after she was diagnosed with COVID-19. Ms. Haj Rahimi was also diabetic and had previously lost one of her fingers to this disease during her imprisonment.“ (HRANA, 22. September 2021)

·      HRANA- Human Rights Activists News Agency: Inmates in Women’s Ward of Kachooie Prison Face Poor Conditions, 19. November 2021
https://www.en-hrana.org/inmates-in-womens-ward-of-kachooie-prison-face-poor-conditions/?hilite=Conditions

„According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Women’s Ward is composed of one quarantine section, four salons, one corridor and one kitchen, and houses between 50 and 60 inmates.

Due to an inadequate heating system to warm the wards on increasingly-cold days, many inmates of this ward have gotten sick. Moreover, these inmates have to cope with many additional issues such as a shut-down kindergarten, shortages of bathroom and sanitary services, and a poorly-equipped food store. This ward has only three toilets and one bathroom for the over 50 inmates. The shared kitchen is small and unsuitable. The food store fails to supply any foods and other requirements. Some of the inmates are living with their little kids. For unknown reasons, the kindergarten of this ward has been closed. Despite the inmates’ repeated complaints and demands that the heating system be fixed, the most urgent of these issues as the temperature drops, prison officials have not yet addressed the issue.“ (HRANA, 19. November 2021)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) ist ein vom US-amerikanischen Kongress finanzierter Rundfunkveranstalter.

·      RFE/RL – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: 'Threatened With Death And Rape': Iranian Activist Back Behind Bars After Exposing Prisoner Abuse, 15. Oktober 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2062416.html

„While the Iranian authorities have not officially made the connection, Gholian’s arrest and transfer to Evin prison appears to be related to a series of tweets she posted on September 9 in which she documented what she said was rampant prisoner abuse during her time at Bushehr Central Prison. Those tweets included accounts of psychological torture, collective punishment, and sex-for-favors practices. […] Just a day before she was summoned to face fresh charges, she expounded on her claims of prisoner abuse in an interview with Radio Farda in which she said she felt as if she had seen the 'ends of the earth.' In her tweets, Gholian wrote that inmates at the women's ward of the Bushehr facility are subjected to the 'most savage forms of torture, and are kept in the most inhuman conditions, and their crime is simply that they are women and inmates.' She then posted five separate accounts to back up her claims, including collective punishments for rule violations, being forced to strip naked in front of inmates and prison workers, psychological pressure, forced temporary marriage with male inmates, and coerced sex with guards. […] In addition to Sepidar, she has served time in Evin prison; the Qarchak facility southeast of the capital, considered the worst women's prison in Iran; Bushehr; and now, back to Evin. […] 'I have described all the issues in such a way that there is no need to talk to the prisoner at all,' she said. 'I have mentioned the exact date of the incident so that they can go [check the security-camera footage] and see how the prisoner was stripped naked and bathed in mineral water and milk.'" (RFE/RL, 15. Oktober 2021)

Der Sonderberichterstatter zu Menschenrechten im Iran berichtet an die UNO-Generalversammlung (UN General Assembly, UNGA).

·      UNGA – UN General Assembly: Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman [A/HRC/46/50], 11. Jänner 2021
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3899852/files/A_HRC_46_50-EN.pdf

„The State’s prisons have faced long-standing overcrowding and hygiene deficiencies (see A/HRC/43/61), insurmountable obstacles for responding to COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. As of June 2020, prisons held 211,000 prisoners, 2.5 times above official capacity. Overcrowding has made social distancing impossible, especially following the return of furloughed prisoners since May 2020. The judiciary states that 95,000 prisoners were furloughed between 8 July and 25 August 2020.” (UNGA, 11. Jänner 2021, S. 13)

·      UNGA - UN General Assembly: Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Note by the Secretary-General; Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman [A/76/160], 16. Juli 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2063250/A_76_160_E.pdf

„19. Prison conditions, including overcrowding, serious infrastructure deficiencies, lack of clean water and sanitary facilities, and insufficient beds, continue to represent a serious threat to prisoners’ life and health (see A/HRC/43/61). The spread of COVID-19 in prisons where there are already such deficiencies poses an additional risk, with additional prisoner deaths from the virus occurring during the reporting period. The Government asserted that the judiciary had taken several measures in cooperation with civil society to reduce the prison population and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It claimed that no one had died inside prison due to COVID-19, but acknowledged the death of 38 prisoners or prison staff in hospitals or treatment centres.

20. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned about the poor hygiene and serious lack of infrastructure at Qarchak Prison. It does not have a proper sewage system, leading to a highly polluted environment. The warehouse structure lacks sufficient heating and ventilation, with testimonies describing prisoners sleeping on the floor due to insufficient beds. For every 100 to 150 prisoners in a ward, there are reportedly only three or four functioning toilets. There are similar concerns regarding the extremely poor hygiene and overcrowding in Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, where water shortages are a critical issue. The prison’s water is unusable, forcing prisoners to buy water every day. The Special Rapporteur notes with concern reports of reprisals against prisoners reporting hygiene issues.“ (UNGA, 16. Juli 2021, S. 8)

Das US Department of State (USDOS) ist das US-amerikanische Außenministerium.

·      USDOS – US Department of State: 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Iran, 30. März 2021
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2048099.html

„Prison conditions were harsh and life threatening due to food shortages, gross overcrowding, physical abuse, and inadequate sanitary conditions and medical care. Prisoner hunger strikes in protest of their treatment were frequent. Physical Conditions: Overcrowding, long a problem in prisons with many prisoners forced to sleep on floors, in hallways, or in prison yards, became particularly acute following mass arrests during the November 2019 protests, according to comments by local government officials referenced in a July report by UNSR Rehman. […] Overall conditions worsened significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.“ (USDOS, 30. März 2021, Section 1.c)