Golrokh Iraee, Zahra Safaei, Marzieh Farsi, Shiva Esmaili, and Sakineh Parvaneh, five female political prisoners in Tehran’s Evin Prison, have been subjected to punitive deprivation of phone calls after participating in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign and chanting slogans against death sentences. The restriction is part of ongoing pressure against female political prisoners.
Reports from Evin Prison indicate that since Sunday, May 24, these five female political prisoners have been punitively deprived of the right to use prison telephones. According to received information, prison authorities canceled the prisoners’ phone cards because of their participation in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign and chanting slogans against the implementation of death sentences. Human rights activists say depriving prisoners of contact with family members and lawyers has become a tool for suppressing the civil protests of political prisoners.
Continued Deprivation of Visits with Family and Lawyers
These five political prisoners had previously also been deprived of the right to in-person visits with their families and lawyers. According to reports, the restriction remains in place, and no clear explanation has been provided regarding its continuation.
Simultaneous deprivation of visits and phone calls places severe psychological pressure on prisoners and their families. According to these activists, preventing prisoners from communicating with family members and lawyers not only has psychological effects but also limits the right to an effective defense and access to legal support.
Pressure on Female Political Prisoners in Evin
Recent reports show that pressure on female political prisoners in Evin Prison has increased over recent months. Earlier, during the second week of May, reports had also emerged regarding intensified pressure on female political prisoners.
According to these reports, Zahra Safaei, Forough Taghipour, Marzieh Farsi, Elaheh Fouladi, Arghavan Fallahi, Shiva Esmaili, and Golrokh Iraee were subjected to three weeks of visitation deprivation because of their participation in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign.
Afterward, because they again participated in the protest ceremony, another three-week deprivation was imposed on them. Human rights activists say even dozens of other prisoners who were merely present in the prison yard or witnessed the ceremony have faced disciplinary punishments.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has in recent months become one of the symbols of political prisoners’ protests against the increasing implementation of death sentences in Iran. Prisoners participating in the campaign usually express their opposition to the death penalty through chanting slogans, gathering in prison yards, or holding sit-ins.
Prison authorities’ response to these protests has often included increased pressure, deprivation of communication, exile, transfer to solitary confinement, or deprivation of visits. Punitive treatment of prisoners protesting executions demonstrates the efforts of security and judicial institutions to silence any voice of dissent, even inside prisons.
Similar Restrictions Repeated in Qarchak Prison
In recent months, similar reports have also emerged from Qarchak Prison in Varamin. According to these reports, a group of female political prisoners in Qarchak also faced communication restrictions and punitive measures after protesting prison conditions or participating in protest gatherings.
The collective deprivation of prisoners’ basic rights and facilities without transparent explanation amounts to a form of collective punishment. According to activists, this process has increased mistrust, psychological insecurity, and tension inside prisons.
Increasing Pressure Amid a Wave of Executions
The protests by female political prisoners in Evin come as the number of executions in Iran has increased in recent months. Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that the widespread use of the death penalty, especially in political and security-related cases, has become a tool for creating an atmosphere of fear and social control.
