Qarchak Female Political Prisoners Transferred to Evin Prison Without Prior Notice

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Qarchak Prison Warden, Soghra Khodadadi informed female political prisoners held in Ward 8 on July 20 that they should prepare for the transfer to Evin Prison without any prior notice.

Informed sources have reported that around 13:00 on the same day, the women were transferred by a bus to Evin Prison. In phone calls from Evin Prison, some of the women told their families that the transfer was made on the orders of Heshmatollah Hayatolgheib, the Tehran Province Director General of Prisons. The transferees have been housed in Hall 2 of the women’s ward in Evin Prison.

Hall 2 of the women’s ward has been used as the quarantine quarter for Covid-19 patients in recent years. It is not clear what plan of action will be taken if the virus spreads in Evin Prison again.

According to reports from Evin Prison, Ward 4 which was formerly known as the Women’s Ward, was changed to a men’s ward eleven years ago. At the same time, hundreds of female political and ordinary crime prisoners were transferred from Rajai Shahr, Evin and several other prisons to the Qarchak Prison which was previously a chicken farm.

There is not enough space for the female political prisoners transferred from Qarchak to Evin Prison and it could lead to even more crammed and dangerous conditions.