Reports indicate that Iran’s Prisons Organization plans to transfer 1,200 inmates from the central prison in Karaj to Ghezel Hesar Prison, a move that will further exacerbate the critical conditions in this facility. This transfer, reportedly aimed at exploiting prisoners as labor, has been heavily criticized by human rights activists.
Severe Overcrowding in Ghezel Hesar Prison
Ghezel Hesar Prison, located near Tehran, currently houses a population far beyond its capacity. Rooms designed for 9 to 12 beds now accommodate 15 to 20 people, forcing many inmates to sleep on the floor or in hallways. Even the prison’s mosques, repurposed as accommodation spaces, are filled with 50 to 60 people.
This prison, notorious for its dire sanitary conditions and poor facilities, houses between 400 and 600 inmates in each ward, many of whom struggle with drug addiction. Additionally, some prisoners suffer from serious illnesses such as HIV and lack adequate access to medical care. The absence of proper ventilation and unsanitary conditions have created an unbearable environment for the inmates.
Exploitation of Prison Labor
The primary goal of transferring inmates appears to be using them as labor in factories. Reports suggest that 1,200 prisoners from Ward 4 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, along with 500 Afghan nationals residing in Hall 19 of the facility, are working under these harsh conditions.
Prisoners who recently used their own funds to improve conditions in Ward 4 now face the risk of being relocated again. Families of political prisoners in this ward have expressed concern about the psychological impact of these repeated relocations.
A History of Poor Planning and Prisoner Rights Violations
This is not the first time that transferring inmates has worsened conditions. Last year, the sudden closure of Gohardasht Prison led to over 1,200 inmates being moved to Ward 3 of Ghezel Hesar Prison. This transfer transformed Ghezel Hesar, which was previously designated for drug offenders, into a facility housing prisoners with diverse charges, including political and ideological detainees.
A member of a political prisoner’s family stated: “With the merging of Gohardasht Prison and the transfer of drug offenders from Karaj to Ghezel Hesar, conditions became such that many inmates had no place to sleep and were reduced to sleeping in the corridors.”
