Pressure and restrictions on women prisoners in Evin prison and their families have intensified in recent months.
Following a change in the official in charge of the women’s ward visiting hall, both booth and in-person visiting times have been reduced, while families, in addition to waiting for several hours, are subjected to insulting and inappropriate treatment by the new visiting hall official, a man identified as “Rezaei.” These conditions led to protests by families and prisoners in the tense atmosphere of the visiting hall on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The new official in charge of the women’s ward visiting hall at Evin Prison ends booth visits after 20 minutes and in-person visits after 40 minutes. Previously, booth visits lasted more than 40 minutes, and in some cases there was no specific time limit for ending them. In-person visits, meanwhile, had previously lasted more than one hour.
Reduced Visiting Times and New Restrictions
Following the change in the official in charge of the women’s ward visiting hall at Evin Prison, additional restrictions have been imposed on visits between prisoners and their families. Restrictions on women prisoners in Evin are now also evident in the visiting process, with the time women prisoners are allowed to spend with their families significantly reduced.
The new visiting hall official, identified as “Rezaei,” stops booth visits after 20 minutes and in-person visits after 40 minutes.
The prisoners’ families have protested both these restrictions and the way the new visiting hall official treats them. They say that after long journeys and waiting for several hours, they face inappropriate treatment, verbal abuse, and insults from the visiting hall official when they come to see their imprisoned relatives.
Families Forced to Wait for Hours Before Visits
Another issue protested by the families is the way the visiting hall is managed and the fact that they are kept waiting before their visits take place.
In some cases, families spend hours waiting to see their imprisoned relatives. This waiting, combined with the reduced visiting time, places additional pressure on families who are forced to endure lengthy procedures and various restrictions to visit prisoners.
Reports also indicate that the visiting hall official treats families in an inappropriate and undignified manner. This conduct has increased visitors’ dissatisfaction and has led to protests by families in recent days.
Families and Prisoners Protest in Evin’s Visiting Hall
On Sunday, September 6, families and women prisoners at Evin protested the conditions created in the visiting hall.
The atmosphere in the visiting hall was tense that day, and families protested the reduced visiting times, the prolonged waiting, and the way the new official treated them.
For prisoners’ families, visits are their only opportunity to learn about the physical and mental condition of their imprisoned relatives and to provide some of their needs. Reducing visiting times or disrupting the process can further restrict this connection.
Intensifying Pressure on Evin Prisoners in Recent Months
The reduction of visiting times and restrictions on prisoners’ communication with their families have come as Evin prisoners have faced a range of pressures and deprivations in recent months.
Evin prisoners have faced temperatures above 40°C, interruptions to cooling equipment, a bedbug infestation, restrictions on time outdoors, and deprivation of sports facilities.
Under such conditions, restrictions on women prisoners in Evin and further limiting their ability to visit their families place additional pressure on the prisoners and their relatives.
