Reports leaked from Dolatabad Prison for women in Isfahan indicate that conditions are so harsh that many female prisoners imprisoned for common crimes are waiting for an opportunity to commit suicide.
Health & Nutrition Status
The food situation in Dolatabad Prison for women is very bad. Prison food is inedible.
The bread is of poor quality because it is stale and contains a high concentration of camphor oil. For breakfast, prisoners receive a piece of cheese some days; other days, a prisoner might receive a bit of jam.
Lunch is also of poor quality. The amount of soybean in the food renders it inedible, and in many cases, prisoners have found insects in their meals.
The prison store sells very low-quality goods at high prices, so prisoners cannot purchase tonics or vegetables. Thus, most prisoners suffer from anemia and serious physical weakness.
Prison hygiene is also abysmal. The number of bathrooms is disproportionately low compared to the prison population, at two bathrooms per 40 prisoners. The toilet well is backed up most of the time. Bathwater is always cold. Women are forced to bathe in cold water, and many suffer bone pain or become ill.
Prison Clinic
The prison clinic does not maintain even minimal facilities. As a result, if a prisoner’s condition deteriorates, no serious action is taken to save her life.
Persecution of Political Prisoners in Dolatabad Prison for women
Political prisoners are under the most pressure in this prison. Many of them are transferred to this prison illegally; others arrive without having even been sentenced. The prison transfers are intended to exert more pressure on the prisoner, keep political prisoners apart, and convey the news of their condition to the media.
The lives of political prisoners at Dolatabad Prison for women are at risk. Prison authorities often hire prisoners accused of crimes such as murder to harass political prisoners.
The hired prisoners pass false reports on political prisoners, making the situation more complex. In some cases, false information has caused new cases to be brought against the political prisoners.
There are a few well-known names in this prison. A woman named Rezvani is the warden. Working under her supervision are Ms. Dorosy, a so-called prison counselor who acts as one of the warden’s main agents, and Keshani, another cruel female prisoner. Ms. Dorosy’s only duty is to harass and insult political prisoners. Keshani enjoys certain protection in prison.
As with many other prisons, moral corruption is rampant among prison authorities, who often use violence and torture to put more pressure on female prisoners.
