Political prisoner Bizhan Kazemi faces torture and arbitrary detention in Iran. His Evin Prison transfer after 8 months exposes systemic human rights abuses.
Iran Human Rights Society, Thursday, September 25, 2025- Political prisoner Bizhan Kazemi endures severe hardships. Authorities transferred him to Ward 7 of Evin Prison. This move follows eight months of unlawful detention in Ministry of Intelligence facilities. He suffered physical and psychological torture there. Recently, Kazemi launched a hunger strike. He protested the violent actions of officials. Now, his physical and mental health raises alarms. Iran Human Rights Society reports this on Thursday, September 25, 2025. Kazemi’s case spotlights arbitrary detentions in Iran. Families and activists demand urgent action. Furthermore, his story reveals deeper patterns of abuse.
Who is Bizhan Kazemi and Why Did Authorities Detain Him?
Bizhan Kazemi is a political activist from Kuhdasht, Lorestan province. Security forces arrested him on January 19, 2025. They raided his home without warning. Agents seized all electronic devices from him and his family. Initially, interrogators held him at the Khorramabad Intelligence Agency detention center. Without formal charges, officials moved him to Ward 241 of Evin Prison. This ward falls under the Judiciary’s Intelligence Protection Unit. Later, they shifted him to Ward 209. The Ministry of Intelligence controls that section directly.
These transfers happened without notifying his family. Authorities also denied him a lawyer. This tactic pressures detainees. It isolates them and forces confessions. Then, after an attack on Evin Prison, guards relocated Kazemi and others to Greater Tehran Prison, known as Fashafouyeh. However, instability persisted there. On July 1, 2025, he and fellow inmates went to a Ministry of Intelligence safe house in Qom. In a rare phone call, Kazemi shared this detail.
Officials keep Kazemi in a separate cell. They impose strict communication bans. Visitation remains forbidden. Legal proceedings stay shrouded in mystery. Therefore, fears grow over intense pressure. Physical and psychological torture looms large. Unlawful interrogations continue. Even enforced disappearance threatens. Kazemi’s mother, Shahnaz Khosravi, heard from security officials. They told her bluntly: “Until Bizhan cooperates with the Ministry of Intelligence, none of his legal rights will apply. That includes no lawyer or regular calls.”
8 Months in Unofficial Detention: A Stark Legal Violation
Shahnaz Khosravi describes the ordeal vividly. Instead of an official prison under Prisons Organization watch, authorities stashed Kazemi in Qom’s Ministry of Intelligence center. This site lacks judicial oversight. Consequently, torture risks skyrocket. Mistreatment becomes routine. Kazemi’s family warned repeatedly. They called his setup arbitrary detention. It shatters basic human rights norms. Over eight months, this unofficial hold violated Iranian law too. Detainees belong in supervised facilities near their home or crime scene. Yet officials ignored that rule. Furthermore, this pattern endangers countless others.
Enduring Torture and Pressure in Solitary Confinement
Reports detail Kazemi’s grueling eight months in solitary. Interrogators applied fierce physical pressure. Psychological tactics wore him down. They deprived him of family visits. No lawyer appeared. Endless questioning dragged on. Threats echoed constantly. These elements wrecked his physical health. Mental scars run deep. Recently, Kazemi struck back with a hunger strike. He aimed to spotlight these injustices. However, his weakened state now sparks urgent worry. Medical aid stays out of reach. Activists fear for his life.
Hunger Strike: Kazemi’s Desperate Cry Against Injustice
Shahnaz Khosravi highlights her son’s resolve. “Bizhan calls it his only protest tool,” she says. He endured agents’ violence at the Qom center. The strike began on September 18, 2025. It lasted five days by latest reports. In brief calls, he insists it’s no whim. Pressures and wrongs forced his hand. Political prisoners in Iran turn to hunger strikes often. They amplify silenced voices. Yet authorities dismiss them. Sometimes, they retaliate harder. Therefore, Kazemi’s action underscores broader resistance.
Key Human Rights Violations in Bizhan Kazemi’s Case
Kazemi’s plight breaches core international standards. Iran pledged to follow these. First, Article 9 of the ICCPR bans arbitrary detention. Yet officials held him nine months in an unofficial spot. That screams violation. Second, Article 10 demands humane treatment for prisoners. Torture reports and endless solitary shatter this. Third, Article 14 guarantees fair trials. Access to lawyers and charge details must flow. Denials here mock justice. Finally, Article 5 of the Universal Declaration bars torture. Physical and mental assaults ignore this outright.
These breaches form no isolated incident. They weave into Iran’s systemic abuses. Security forces exploit unofficial centers freely. Lawlessness thrives.
Urgent Call to Action for Bizhan Kazemi’s Plight
Kazemi’s transfer to Evin Ward 7 marks no relief. Uncertainty lingers. He survived nine months of illegal holds, beatings, and coercion. Now, in this notorious prison, risks persist. Families and rights groups rally. They urge an end to his arbitrary lockup. Immediate medical care demands attention. A transparent, fair trial beckons for this brave activist.
See also the below articles:
- Somayeh Rashidi Death: Prison Neglect Claims Another Victim in Iran
- Iran Prison Crisis: Maryam Akbari Monfared Health Deteriorates in Qarchak Amid Medical Neglect
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