Amnesty International: Images of prisoner abuse in Evin are “tip of the iceberg” of torture epidemic in Iran
Amnesty International, in response to images and videos obtained by the "Adalat Ali" hacking group from security cameras at Evin Prison in northern Tehran, issued a statement saying that the images show "horrific abuse of prisoners and are a reminder of the impunity granted to prison authorities in Iran who subject detainees to torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment."
Amnesty International's statement, released on Wednesday, September 25, said the organization had analyzed 16 leaked videos obtained through independent Iranian media.
According to Amnesty International, these videos provide “shocking visual evidence of beatings, sexual abuse, and deliberate neglect and mistreatment of people in need of medical care.”
Amnesty International added in its statement that the videos also serve to reaffirm ongoing concerns about prison overcrowding and the appalling and inhumane conditions of solitary confinement.
"These disturbing images provide a rare glimpse into the routine brutality against prisoners in Iran," said Hebe Morayev, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa director. "It is shocking to see what goes on behind the walls of Evin, but sadly the abuses seen in the leaked videos are just the tip of the iceberg of the torture epidemic in Iran."
A group called "Tapandegan" sent an email to Voice of America on Saturday, August 20, stating that the "Justice Ali" group had hacked Evin Prison. "Justice Ali" hacked the cameras of Evin Prison to show its protest and expose the "oppression and oppression" being inflicted on political prisoners, and obtained evidence from inside the prison, including "photos of the prison control room, prisoners' wards and rooms, political prisoners' files, and confidential documents from Evin Prison."
The news of the hacking of Evin Prison cameras and the publication of images of mistreatment of prisoners has received widespread coverage on social media and media outside Iran.
Some Islamic Republic officials have also commented on this matter and promised to investigate the "mistreatment of prisoners in Evin Prison."
On Wednesday, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, said in a public session of the parliament, in response to a member's remark regarding the published images from Evin Prison: "The Article 90 Commission should follow up on the issue related to Evin Prison in coordination with the Attorney General's Office."
Hebe Murayev, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Director, said about the Islamic Republic's authorities' response to the leaked images from Evin Prison: "If the Iranian authorities want their promises on this matter to be true, they must immediately allow international observers, including the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, to independently investigate Evin Prison and other prisons in accordance with international standards."
Javed Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, described the human rights situation in Iran as "deteriorating" in his latest report.
In this report, he pointed out the Islamic Republic's continued non-compliance with human rights standards, arbitrary arrests, the widespread suppression of the November 2019 protests, and the downing of a Ukrainian plane by the Revolutionary Guard Corps, and said that the families of the victims of these incidents have been threatened.
Source: Voice of America
