On the morning of Sunday, July 27, Saeed Masouri—the longest-held political prisoner in Iran’s regime prisons—was suddenly exiled from Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj to Zahedan Prison, one of the most deprived and dangerous facilities in the country, without any legal warrant. His family has described the move as “punitive and deliberate” and voiced grave concern for his life and well-being.
Sudden Transfer Without Judicial Order
According to reports from inside the prison, the transfer was carried out in the early morning hours without prior notice, by security agents who presented no judicial documentation. A similar attempt in previous weeks had failed due to Masouri’s resistance and support from his fellow inmates.
Earlier, on June 15, Ministry of Intelligence agents had also attempted to move this political prisoner to an undisclosed location but were forced to retreat after protests from other prisoners.
Opposition to Executions: A Catalyst for Increased Pressure
In June, Saeed Masouri released a letter from prison in which he strongly condemned the issuance and implementation of death sentences, particularly against political prisoners. Many human rights observers believe that this stance led to increased pressure and punitive measures, such as his exile far from his family.
Following his exile, Saeed Masouri’s family released the following statement:
Exile of Saeed Masouri to Zahedan Prison: A Punitive Transfer After 25 Years in Prison
Saeed Masouri, a political prisoner who has spent more than 25 years in Iranian regime prisons, was exiled to Zahedan Prison without any prior notice or legal warrant. This abrupt action by security agencies comes after years of his detention in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, near which his family had settled to facilitate visitation.
Exile to Zahedan—a prison known for its deprivation and danger—is clearly an act of increasing psychological and physical abuse of this political prisoner and his family. This transfer not only endangers his basic rights to visitation, medical care, and safety, but is part of a prolonged campaign of deliberate deprivation of his fundamental human rights.
His exile to Zahedan poses a serious threat to his health and safety, and must be met with an urgent response from international human rights organizations.
25 Years Without Furlough: Intensified Deprivation for a Political Prisoner
Saeed Masouri has been imprisoned since 2000. Over these years, he has been denied the right to furlough, open communication, and proper medical care. He has repeatedly faced psychological torture, repeated interrogations, punitive transfers, and solitary confinement.
