Adelabad Prison, located in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, is notorious for its long-standing violations of human rights. This grim institution houses political, ideological, and general prisoners under conditions that reflect a systematic disregard for human dignity. Reports from former inmates reveal inhumane treatment, rampant torture, and appalling living conditions, especially in the women’s ward. These accounts provide a stark illustration of the clerical regime’s widespread and systematic human rights abuses.
The Women’s Ward: A Microcosm of Injustice
The women’s ward in Adelabad Prison consists of eight rooms, one designated for political and financial prisoners, separated from the others. Currently, three female political prisoners—Hoda Mehregan, Maryam Deris, and Hakimeh Honarmand—are held in this ward under harsh and degrading conditions.
- Hoda Mehregan, arrested alongside her father Mohammad-Ali Mehregan, endured 40 to 50 days in solitary confinement.
- Hakimeh Honarmand, a political prisoner from the 1980s, has faced years of imprisonment and security pressures. She was arrested with her son.
- Maryam Deris, a master’s student from the southwestern city of Kazerun, was detained during the nationwide protests of 2022.
The ward is overcrowded, forcing many prisoners to sleep “book-style” (side by side, with barely any room to move) on cold, unheated floors.
Poor sanitation exacerbates the dire conditions, with toilets and showers inside the rooms, emitting foul odors that permeate the air. The lack of heating during the winter months makes survival even more challenging.
Health and Sanitation Crisis
Prisoners in the women’s ward face severe health challenges due to unhygienic conditions and inadequate medical care. Skin diseases are widespread, and the overcrowded environment fosters the rapid spread of illnesses.
Drug-addicted inmates receive sedatives instead of proper treatment, further neglecting their health needs. This negligence harms both the physical and mental well-being of all prisoners, compounding their suffering.
Historical Context of Adelabad Prison
Adelabad Prison, constructed during the reign of the Shah, has become a symbol of the Iranian regime’s oppressive policies over the past decades. It has consistently served as a detention center for political dissidents, journalists, human rights activists, and protesting women.
During the 1980s, Adelabad was infamous for the brutal torture and execution of political prisoners. Survivors of this period have testified to the horrific methods employed, leaving many with lasting physical and psychological scars. These historical atrocities underscore the regime’s enduring disregard for fundamental human rights.
A Systematic Policy of Repression
The conditions at Adelabad Prison reflect the Iranian regime’s deliberate strategy to break the spirit of dissenters. The lack of basic sanitary, medical, and living facilities is not incidental but a calculated effort to crush resistance. Reports from international human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned these practices, yet the regime continues its widespread violations with impunity.
The inhumane conditions in Adelabad Prison’s women’s ward offer just a glimpse of the broader human rights crisis in Iran. Political and general prisoners alike endure unimaginable suffering, stripped of their basic rights. The global community and human rights organizations must act, amplifying the voices of those silenced behind prison walls. Ignoring this ongoing injustice only perpetuates the cycle of oppression and suffering.
Adelabad Prison stands as a stark reminder of the clerical regime’s systemic human rights abuses, calling for urgent international attention and action.
