The transfer of 60 inmates to the overcrowded women’s ward of Evin Prison sparked protests and clashes with prison guards on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Sixty female prisoners with financial convictions were transferred on Sunday from Qarchak Prison to the women’s ward of Evin. The transfer took place while the facility was already struggling, further intensifying the overcrowding at the women’s ward of Evin, which previously suffered from a severe shortage of space.
Forty-nine of the new arrivals have entered the women’s ward, while others are still being held in the quarantine section.
Following the relocation, inmates in the ward protested the deteriorating conditions. Prison guard officers immediately entered the area and threatened the women with separating death-row prisoners from the rest.
Mahsa Nouri (Masoumeh) and Masoumeh (Farah) Nassaji were violently transferred to solitary confinement after protesting this situation.
Masoumeh Nassaji, 64 years old, suffers from asthma, and is presently deprived of access to her much-needed medications.
The Conditions of the Women’s Ward
The women’s ward holds approximately 60 political prisoners, along with two children, and was already facing a shortage of holding space prior to this transfer.
The relocation of dozens of additional inmates has severely exacerbated the overcrowding at Evin Prison, adding to the lack of health services and psychological pressure.
Since the appointment of Hossein Yousefi, pressure on political prisoners has increased significantly, particularly regarding in-person visits, phone calls, and medical services. The state of medical care in the ward remains dire compared to minimum humanitarian standards, with inmates facing strict restrictions on medication and specialist access.
