Systemic Psychological and Medical Abuse in Iran Prisons
Welcome to this episode of the NCRI Women’s Committee podcast where we uncover one of the darkest facets of human rights abuse within the prison system of the Iranian regime which has victimized many women.
The regime’s treatment of political prisoners has always been harsh. Some reports reveal an even more sinister strategy: forcing illness and breaking prisoners through brutal tactics that often lead to irreversible health damage—or worse. Today, we’ll dive into these practices and bring to light the voices of those who have endured the unimaginable.
To anyone who has followed Iran’s recent history, the stories of political prisoners are already gut-wrenching. But what we’re talking about today is a method of control that goes beyond physical and psychological torture. Prisoners who resist the regime or refuse to cooperate face medical torture: they’re given injections or forced to take pills, often leading to chronic autoimmune diseases or mental breakdowns. These are not isolated cases—this is a systematic campaign to destroy the bodies and spirits of dissidents.
The term some have used is “biological assassination.” Think about that for a moment. These prisoners are not just being silenced; they’re being slowly dismantled from the inside. Some are given drugs that disrupt their immune systems, leading to diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and lupus. And for those who resist even further? The regime escalates with psychoactive drugs that induce total psychological collapse, making even the strongest individuals weak and vulnerable.
One particularly tragic example is that of Soada Khadirzadeh. She’s a Kurdish political prisoner who was arrested in the summer of 2022 while pregnant. In Urmia prison, she endured unspeakable torture and even attempted suicide because of the psychological torment. Soada was pressured to confess on camera for alleged crimes, and when she refused, they threatened to declare her mentally unstable to take her newborn away. These tactics aren’t just cruel; they’re meticulously designed to destroy lives.
And Soada’s case isn’t isolated. Another example is Motahareh Gouneii, a former student activist, whose MS relapsed while she was imprisoned. This is happening to many women, activists, young students, and mothers who simply demand justice and freedom. But the cost they’re paying is enormous.
And beyond autoimmune diseases, there are also reports of Drug Reactions with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, or DRESS syndrome, being induced in prisoners. This is a severe condition caused by certain medications that can lead to systemic inflammation and organ failure. The regime uses it as a weapon, leaving prisoners with life-threatening conditions that they can neither fight nor ignore.
One of the most disturbing aspects is that even after their release, some prisoners meet untimely, suspicious deaths. Take the case of Maryam Arvin, an attorney who was reportedly given an IV injection while in custody under the pretense of a sedative. Shortly after her release, she died of what was later reported as drug poisoning. And then there’s Sara Tabrizi, a former political prisoner, only 20 years old, who died after her release. The official report stated it was due to “pill ingestion,” but the circumstances around her death raise a lot of questions.
Another victim of such crimes was Yalda Aghafazli, a resilient and defiant young woman, only 19 years old, who endured severe beatings during two weeks of detention. In a phone call to her family, she said, “They wrote in my file, “the accused did not express remorse.” However, this unyielding woman tragically ended her life under suspicious circumstances just two days after her release.
Fellow prisoners suggest that some of these suicides or suspicious deaths following release result from the effects of radioactive substances or psychoactive drug injections during detention. They reveal a pattern: prisoners released from detention with unexplained health complications and symptoms, only to die under mysterious conditions. The regime is clearly not satisfied with silencing them while in prison. They want to make sure these voices never rise again. This is nothing short of state-sponsored murder.
And this brings us to why we’re speaking up today. Every story we’ve shared points to a fundamental abuse of human rights. Forcing illnesses, using psychoactive drugs to break people mentally, staging suicides—this is the Iranian regime’s response to those who dare to dream of freedom. We can’t stay silent about this.
We must draw attention to the plight of these prisoners. Each of them is a victim of the regime’s desperate efforts to maintain control. But behind every case of forced illness, every autoimmune disease induced, and every death in detention is a person who dared to stand up for freedom. And the least we can do is stand up for them in return.
So, to our listeners: we need your voice. We need to put pressure on our governments, on international organizations, and on human rights groups to take action. What’s happening in Iran’s prisons is a crime against humanity. We need an international investigation into these abuses, and we need sanctions on those responsible. Only with global attention can we hope to change this brutal reality.
The Iranian regime has gotten away with these crimes for too long, and they continue because they think no one is watching. But we are watching, and we are speaking out. To every listener: share these stories, talk about Soada, Maryam, Yalda, and all the others who have suffered in silence. Let’s break that silence for them.
Let’s not let their courage go unnoticed. Thank you for joining us today.
For more information on the struggle of Iranian women for freedom and democracy, you can visit our website: wncri.org.
Let’s push for justice for these brave souls. Until next time, stay informed, stay active, and together. Thank you for listening.
