In a dangerous escalation seen as the Iranian regime’s attempt to exact revenge on its domestic opponents following its war with Israel, political prisoners at Qezelhesar Prison in Karaj have thwarted a violent effort by Ministry of Intelligence agents to transfer Iran’s longest-serving political prisoner, Saeed Masouri, to an unknown location. The event has led to a tense standoff and a severe lockdown within the prison.
The Failed Transfer Attempt
On the morning of Wednesday, July 16, 2025, forces from the Ministry of Intelligence and prison guards raided the ward for political prisoners with the intent of abducting Saeed Masouri. According to reports, the agents used a deceptive tactic, summoning him out of the ward under the pretext that the “Protection and Intelligence Office” needed to see him. Once he stepped through the barred gate, it was locked behind him to prevent his return.
Iranian Political Prisoner Saeed Massouri Suddenly Transferred to Unknown Location
Realizing from past experience that the goal was a forcible transfer, Masouri refused to cooperate. Meanwhile, another political prisoner who had been with him quickly alerted their fellow inmates. The prisoners immediately gathered at the barred gate, managed to pull Masouri back inside through force of will and numbers amidst chanting and slogans, and then barricaded the ward door from the inside.
In retaliation, the director of Qezelhesar Prison, Allah-karam Azizi, ordered the ward’s telephone lines to be cut for several hours. After protests, communications were restored, but the prisoners were given an ultimatum: the transfer has been postponed until Saturday, July 19, but it “will be carried out by any means necessary.”
Reactions in Prison & The Prisoners’ Statement
The political prisoners of Qezelhesar issued an urgent statement detailing the incident, declaring that a security atmosphere now pervades the ward, with the constant threat of a raid by prison guards. Their statement read:
“Today, our morning began with more news of the government’s maximum pressure… This time, it was the turn of Saeed Masouri, Iran’s longest-serving political prisoner, to taste the revenge of the oppressive Islamic Republic’s system for the thousandth time.”
The prisoners stressed that “the abduction and exile of political prisoners to unknown locations is one of the most flagrant violations of human rights that the regime uses as a tool of suppression.” They also warned that this pressure may be a prelude to carrying out the illegal death sentences against their cellmates, specifically Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, whose requests for a retrial were recently rejected for the fourth time.
Who is Saeed Masouri?
Saeed Masouri, 60, is a symbol of resilience in Iran’s prisons and is the country’s longest-serving political prisoner.
* Arrest Date: He has been imprisoned since January 2001.
* Sentence Duration: He has spent nearly 25 years in prison without a single day of furlough.
* Charge: “Cooperation with the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) of Iran.”
* Background: He was a medical student in Germany and Norway before his arrest upon returning to Iran in the city of Dezful.
* Activism in Prison: Masouri is known for his prominent role in the “Tuesdays Against Executions” campaign, organized by prisoners to protest death sentences. In the last month, he has been explicitly threatened by intelligence agents over his letters exposing the rise in executions.
The Regime’s Post-War Revenge as a Pretext for Repression
Political prisoners and human rights activists are linking this incident to the atmosphere following the recent war with Israel. As stated in the prisoners’ declaration: “In these circumstances, the war has provided another pretext for the government to tighten the noose on the people, especially political prisoners.”
The statement adds that the regime considers its “real war to be with the people, not with foreign governments,” and that pressure on the populace has increased under various pretexts since the conflict. They view the targeting of Saeed Masouri today as an act of “blind revenge against the unarmed people.”
This move is widely seen as a message of intimidation to all dissidents, signaling that the regime will use an iron fist internally to compensate for any blow it receives externally, with political prisoners being the easiest target for this retribution.
