18th June 2025 - Tehran’s Evin Prison has been placed under full lockdown by Iran’s Special Unit forces following heightened regional tensions triggered by Israeli military action. Ward 8, which houses numerous political and ideological prisoners, is reportedly included in the siege. Eyewitness accounts describe a heavy deployment of Special Unit forces restricting prisoner movement, severing phone contact with families, and halting access to outdoor exercise.
The abrupt isolation has raised serious concerns about the well-being and safety of detainees. The regime appears to be using external conflict as a pretext for increased domestic repression—a pattern seen during previous crises. The regime has intensified surveillance and curtailed civil liberties, drawing alarm from civil society and rights groups.
Today, the sister of political prisoner Ali Younesi, Aida Younesi (both shown in the picture above), posted on X (formerly Twitter) that intelligence agents forcibly removed her brother from Evin and transferred him to an unknown location. She reported that their mother was in distress and convulsing with worry, adding: “Shame on you for not leaving the prisoners alone even in these conditions... Your shamelessness knows no bounds.”
Evin Prison, notorious for housing political prisoners, has long been under scrutiny by international human rights bodies. The current communication blackout and lockdown severely limit access to vital services, including legal representation, medical care, and humanitarian oversight.
