Restrictions on phone calls and in-person visits continue in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.
Evin Prison officials, in a bid to intensify pressure on inmates, have carried out unusual body searches. Consequently, some prisoners in the women’s ward have been denied in-person and booth visits over the past few days.
Political prisoner Elaheh Fouladi has been deprived of contact and visits with her family since July 6, 2024.
Political prisoner Maryam Yahyavi has been deprived of phone contact with her family since August 6.
On August 3, the Evin Prison authorities announced that dozens of these female prisoners would be deprived of in-person visits with their families for an indefinite period. The punishment followed the protest and sit-in by female political prisoners in Evin Prison against the death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi, on July 25 and 27, 2024, where they chanted slogans such as “Death to the execution government,” “Death to the dictator,” “You dictator, I am Arash, fire responds to fire,” and “The women’s ward of Evin stands united and resolute to the end.”
Depriving a prisoner of phone contact and in-person visits with family members violates several provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.