Reports from Lakan Women’s Prison in Rasht reveal alarming and inhumane conditions. Severe shortages in healthcare services, lack of access to necessities, and a widespread addiction crisis have pushed the situation of female prisoners to a critical level.
Lack of Medical Facilities: Deprivation of Basic Healthcare
According to reports, Lakan Women’s Prison has no permanent doctor or nurse, and a single health worker with insufficient training and experience is responsible for providing medical care to the inmates. A general physician visits the women’s ward only once a week, and prisoners describe this doctor as inexperienced and lacking the necessary medical knowledge.
The prison infirmary, which is supposed to serve 150 inmates, consists of only a small room with a single bed and a medical desk, which is grossly inadequate for the needs of prisoners. In severe cases, sick inmates are referred to the male ward’s general physician, and in extreme situations, they are transferred to Razi Hospital in Rasht. However, in many cases, prisoners are forced to endure pain and various illnesses, including fungal infections, malnutrition, and skin diseases, due to the lack of proper medical care. The widespread outbreak of conditions such as alopecia areata (patchy hair loss) and fungal infections has raised serious concerns, yet no preventive or treatment programs are in place.
Discrimination and Lack of Basic Facilities for Female Inmates
Another significant issue in this prison is the lack of access to a kitchen and cooking facilities for women. While male prisoners have access to such amenities, female inmates are deprived of this basic necessity. This not only exacerbates health and hygiene issues but also reflects a blatant case of discrimination within the prison system.
Widespread Addiction Crisis and Inhumane Withdrawal Methods
One of the most severe crises in Lakan Women’s Prison is drug addiction. Many female inmates suffer from substance dependency and are kept in completely inadequate conditions. However, there are no medical or support services available for addiction treatment, and those who attempt to quit drugs are subjected to conditions resembling medieval torture.
Inmates facing withdrawal not only receive no medical assistance but are also labeled as “worthless” and “garbage”, further dehumanizing them and depriving them of essential care. This inhumane treatment has put the health and lives of many female prisoners at serious risk.
Urgent Need for Human Rights Intervention
The conditions in Lakan Women’s Prison in Rasht are a clear violation of human rights and a blatant disregard for international standards regarding prisoner treatment. The lack of medical facilities, poor hygiene, inadequate nutrition, and the severe addiction crisis have turned this prison into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Human rights organizations and international bodies must take immediate action to address this dire situation and ensure that female prisoners have access to basic human rights and minimum living standards.
