Nine Female Political Prisoners in Evin Prison, Including Varisha Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, Banned from Visiting Family and Lawyers
Iran Human Rights Society, Friday, January 17, 2025 – A group of female political prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, including two prisoners sentenced to death, once again deprived of their basic rights.
According to informed sources, nine political prisoners, including Varisha Moradi and Pakhshan Azizi, banned from visiting their families and lawyers. Additionally, two other prisoners have also lost the right to make phone calls to their families.
The prisoners deprived of visits are:
Anisha (Maryam) Asadollahi, Golrokh Iraee, Vida (Vaheeda) Rabani, Zahra Safaie. Pakhshan Azizi, Elaheh Fouladi, Motahareh Gonaei, Varisha Moradi, and Maryam Yahyavi.
These prisoners had previously been denied visits in the summer of this year due to their protests against death sentences. After the announcement of the removal of this ban, they again deprived of visiting their families from January 13.
Meanwhile, Maryam Yahyavi and Sakineh Parvaneh, another political prisoner held in the women’s ward, deprived of both the right to visits and the possibility of making phone calls to their families.
Cut Off from Communication in August 2024
Previously, following two protest movements and sit-ins by the women’s ward of Evin Prison on August 2 and 16, 2024, in protest against the issuance of a death sentence for Pakhshan Azizi and the execution of Reza Rasaei, 17 female political prisoners in Evin Prison sentenced to cut off from phone calls and in-person visits for one to three months.
The names of these political prisoners held in Evin Prison were Elaheh Fouladi, Pakhshan Azizi, Narges Mohammadi, Zahra Safaie. Maryam Asadollahi, Azam Khezri Javadi, Sarina Jahani, Mahboubeh Rezaei, Reyhaneh Ansari, Sakineh Parvaneh, Varisha Moradi. Golrokh Iraee, Pariyoush Moslemi, Samaneh Asghari, Hooran Nikbakht, Maryam Yahyavi, and Sanaz Yekta.
Among these political prisoners, Elaheh Fouladi had the longest deprivation from contact and visits. She sentenced to three months of deprivation from phone calls and in-person visits, starting from August 18, 2024.
Pakhshan Azizi, Reyhaneh Ansari, Narges Mohammadi, Mahboubeh Rezaei. And Golrokh Iraee sentenced to two months of deprivation, while the other female political prisoners sentenced to one month of deprivation.
Deprivation of Phone Calls and In-Person Visits for Female Political Prisoners in Evin Prison
2024: A Bloodstained Year for Human Rights in Iran – Iran HRS
Human Rights Situation in Iran in the year 2024 – Iran HRS
Violation of International Humanitarian Laws
The deprivation of female political prisoners in Evin Prison from phone calls and in-person visits with their families contravenes several articles of international human rights laws and documents. These are as follows:
Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
Humane Treatment of Prisoners: This article emphasizes that all persons deprived of their liberty must treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. The connection of prisoners with their families and the outside world is a fundamental aspect of ensuring humane treatment.
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules):
Rule 58: This rule emphasizes that prisoners shall have the right to communicate with their family and friends through correspondence and regular telephone calls. In-person visits with families should also be facilitated as much as possible. Deprivation of these rights is a clear violation of these rules.
Rule 43: This rule states that disciplinary isolation should not include a complete ban on contact with family.
Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC):
Maintaining Contact with Family: This article, concerning the treatment of children in detention, states that every child deprived of liberty shall have the right to maintain regular contact with their family, whether through visits or correspondence. This principle can also extended to adult prisoners, as humane principles in dealing with individuals in detention must be upheld.
Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):
Right to Privacy and Family: This article of the UDHR refers to the right to privacy, family life, and correspondence, and prohibits arbitrary interference in these matters. Denying prisoners the right to communicate with their families is a violation of this right.
Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
Prohibition of Torture and Inhumane Treatment: Any form of inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment is prohibited. Denying access to contact and visits with family can be considered a form of psychological torture.
These human rights regulations emphasize the need to respect human dignity and the right of prisoners to maintain contact with their family and friends. Denying prisoners these rights is a blatant violation of these fundamental principles.
Follow Iran Human Rights society on social networks:
Telegram /Twitter /Instagram / YouTube / Facebook
Join Iran Human Rights Society on Twitter
Discussion about this post