On the pages of my blog, I will try to describe the conditions in Iranian prisons, especially Evin prison of Tehran. I spent there six months as a prisoner of conscience. I lived in sections 240, 209, and the public ward for political prisoners 350. Each section has its specifications, and I try to describe them on this blog.
My background as a prisoner
Before my detention in Iran, I'd never been to prison, even not as a visitor
- I did not know anything about tricks and games, I could not really communicate with the guards, since I knew no Persian.
- I tried to survive, and to play by the rules, to improve my chances of regaining freedom
- Some piece of information on this blog comes from the stories of other prisoners I met on my way through Evin, in sections 209 and 350
- Now I am back in my country, living a life of a free man.
General description of prison sections (each section will be described further on the individual page)
1. 240 - The solitary confinement ward
This high secret facility forms part of an Evin complex nobody can access, except of prison guards and Iranian security police. They typically detain here prisoners for 7 days to 30 days, but in some cases, they keep them here for months.
The cells are small, and prisoner is allowed just one short walk outside per week, for seven minutes. He can take a shower also once a week only.
The food quality is extremely low, and the rations are rather small. The rule is to serve the food cold, three times a day.
The cells are empty and bare. Prisoners sleep on the ground. The guards are forbidden to talk to prisoners. If you survive your stay in 240, they typically move you to section 209. Read more.
2. 209 - Sharing cells with other prisoners, waiting for your trial
Another high-secret facility, containing of both solitary confinement and communal cells. Prisoners spend here anything from few days to several years.
Cells are a bit better equipped, but one still sleeps on the ground. You are allowed to walk outside three times a week, and take shower twice.
Food quality is much better when compared to 240, but you should not expect healthy food.
Interrogations can still continue while you are detained here. Prisoners suffering serious health problems, as well as very old prisoners, start they detention here (they aren't sent to building 240, unless the Iranian authorities don't care whether they survive or not). Read more.
3. Ward 350 - Political prison with open doors
This is where they place you after your trial, or closely before it, once all the interrogation sessions have finished. You can walk in the ward anytime you want, and you can meet and talk to other political prisoners.
Food in this ward has an extremely low quality and is full of sand. Therefor, prisoners try to cook for themselves, there is a full equipped kitchen present.
The ward includes a small gym, a ping-pong table, and other basic facilities. Political prisoners often spend here years, but it is not uncommon to be transferred to another ward, or even another prison in Tehran. Read more.
What wiki says about Evin prison:
Evin Prison was constructed in 1972 under the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It is located at the foot of the Alborz mountains on the former home of Ziaeddin Tabatabaee, who briefly served as prime minister in the 1920s. The grounds of the prison included an execution yard, courtroom, and separate blocks for common criminals and female inmates. It was originally operated by the Shah's security and intelligence service, SAVAK. It quickly supplanted Qasr Prison as the country's "Bastille".[citation needed] It was initially designed to house 320 inmates—20 in solitary cells and 300 in two large communal blocks— and was expanded to hold more than 1,500 prisoners—including 100 solitary cells for political prisoners—by 1977.
Books written by former prisoners of Evin
If you look for additional information on the prison, and how life feels there, you can check some great books about prison. My personal favorite is University of Solitude, but you can find good books from Bauer and Mahari, as well as books from women detained in a special female ward of Evin complex. Alternatively, you can read more in the pages of this website.
Remember, Evin is not the most brutal prison in the world. But still, human rights are abused there, and many prisoners face inhuman conditions. Therefore it is important to talk about this facility, and to raise awareness of things that do happen there. Please, share this website with your friends and help raise awareness of prisoners of conscience suffering inside of this infamous prison.
