Yaresan women imprisoned in Qarchak Prison of Varamin were badly beaten up and brutalized on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, by special prison guards using batons and shockers.
The incident happened after a number of inmates jailed on ordinary crimes were incited by prison officials to cause tensions and prepare the grounds for subsequent quarrels.
The families of Yaresan women (Gonabadi Dervishes) have been gathering outside Qarchak Prison in Varamin but have not been allowed to visit or contact their relatives.
Eleven Yaresan women were transferred to Qarchak Prison on February 20, 2018, after the bloody crackdown of the peaceful demonstration and gathering of Gonabadi Dervishes in Tehran. Although the arrested women had been badly injured and needed urgent medical care, the prison’s medical staff refused to provide them care.
Sepideh Moradi, Sima Entesari, Shima Entessari, Avisha Jalaleddin, Shokoufeh Yadollahi, Maryam Farsiani, Nazilla Noori, Maryam Barakouhi, Elham Ahmadi and Sedigheh Safabakht have been detained since February 20, 2018, in Qarchak Prison under inhuman conditions.
Ms. Sepideh Moradi suffered injuries in the hand, elbow and fingers while being arrested during the Yaresan protest in Tehran. Her legs got burnt due to security forces’ use of tear gas, the scars of which still remain after three months. Ms. Moradi has been denied medical care.
Ms. Shokoufeh Yadollahi was badly brutalized during arrest and subsequently under torture as a result of which she has lost her sense of smell and needs to be treated urgently.
Ms. Shahnaz Kian Asl (Kiani) was transferred to the dispensary of Qarchak Prison of Varamin on Saturday, May 19, 2018, upon insistence of inmates, but was returned to the ward without receiving medical care. She had been offended and humiliated in the clinic by the doctor and nurse.
Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action on March 29, 2018, condemning the arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of 11 women from Gonabadi Dervish religious minority.
