Based on the accounts of eyewitnesses and families of the prisoners, this report reconstructs the events of March 31, 2026, at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan; from the moment projectiles struck and fires broke out to the shootings, fatalities, transfer of bodies, fabrication of new legal cases, and the families’ accounts of the days following the incident.
Iran Human Rights Society Iran, Sunday, June 28, 2026 – This report chronicles the events of March 31, 2026, regarding an attack during the war on a military base located behind Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. This report has been compiled based on the observations of eyewitnesses on the scene and accounts from the prisoners’ families received by the Iran Human Rights Society.
Our colleagues have made every effort to inform the public of the details of the crime committed against the prisoners by government agents in this prison. At the time, due to internet shutdowns, many citizens were unaware of what transpired against the prisoners.
Part One
Why was Dastgerd Prison targeted by projectile strikes during the war?
The beginning of the incident, missile strikes, the exit of prisoners, and the start of the fires
According to multiple accounts, during the war on March 31, 2026, the military base located behind Dastgerd Prison was targeted by a missile attack. According to witnesses, two projectiles also hit the interior of the prison complex; one struck the soldiers’ dormitory and the other landed near the back wall of the prison adjacent to the Ministry of Intelligence, which some witnesses refer to as “Alefta.”
Why did the prisoners leave their wards after the projectiles struck?
Following these explosions, the guards at the watchposts and prison officials abandoned the ward doors and left the premises. Believing that the prison was collapsing, the prisoners left their wards to save their lives. According to a former prisoner, the inmates of Counseling Ward 4 were the first to exit, followed by prisoners from Unit 1 and Unit 2, who entered the main corridor demanding that the doors be opened so they could access the adjacent yard.
Why did prison officials not respond to the prisoners’ requests?
According to witnesses, prison officials ignored the prisoners’ pleas, which exacerbated fear and turmoil.
Witnesses on the scene reported:
“The intensity of the explosions was so severe that the prisoners thought the prison was under direct attack and could collapse on them at any moment. For this reason, the prisoners left their wards to find an escape route.”
How did the fire at Dastgerd Prison begin?
To force the guards to open the ward doors, the prisoners started fires. According to this account, the fires were set using blankets, sheets, and flammable items in various sections of the prison, including the restaurant, the visitation hall, the virtual visitation room, the central (or Bahareh) store, and the main hall.
The prison corridors lacked proper ventilation, and the smoke from the fire spread throughout the enclosed prison space. The walls and doors were damaged, trapping the prisoners amid smoke and fire.
What do the families of the prisoners recount about the intensity of the explosions?
The families of the prisoners recount that the intensity of the explosions was severe enough to tear off some ceiling panels and several ward doors. Shrapnel even reached the prison’s textile workshop, sparking a fire in that section.
According to one family member, prisoners contacted their families within the very first hours, speaking in an anxious and panicked state about the conditions inside. They stated that breathing had become difficult due to the dust and smoke caused by the explosions.
Why were Special Unit forces deployed around Dastgerd Prison?
Simultaneously with the explosions, Special Unit forces, who had been stationed around the prison and in the Jihad-e Keshavarzi area across from it following the Twelve-Day War, prepared to intervene.
The Special Unit forces issued warnings to the prisoners from behind Door No. 36 to return to their wards, but returning was impossible as the fire was spreading rapidly behind them.
What scenes did the families present outside Dastgerd Prison witness?
Meanwhile, families who had gathered outside out of concern for the lives of their loved ones witnessed the closure of access routes and a massive deployment of security forces.
According to a number of these families, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Special Unit forces blocked all routes surrounding the prison and the highway facing it. Until the early hours of the next morning, the sounds of explosions, gunfire, and the screams of prisoners could be heard from inside.
Part Two
Why was the entry of the Special Unit a turning point in the Dastgerd Prison events?
The entry of the Special Unit, shootings, casualties, the wounded, and the transfer of bodies
While prisoners were gathered in the main corridors and various sections of the prison, the Special Unit forces, stationed around the prison since the Twelve-Day War, moved in. According to multiple accounts, instead of aiding the prisoners and evacuating them from high-risk zones, the agents confronted them using pellets, live ammunition, tear gas, and brutal beatings.
What do witnesses recount about the shootings of prisoners?
According to witnesses, the intensity of the gunfire was so severe that “people were falling to the ground like rain.” Many prisoners who were trying to flee were shot, and a large number were wounded.
Prior to the arrival of the Special Unit, clashes had broken out between prisoners and prison guards, but once the Special Unit entered, the prisoners were targeted with volleys of automatic gunfire.
Were some prisoners targeted even after being wounded?
Some witnesses state that even a number of prisoners who had been shot in the leg and lay wounded on the ground were killed by subsequent shots fired by the agents.
According to witnesses, many prisoners sought refuge amidst the flames to escape the gunfire. Another group fled into the prison hall, which was already on fire.
How did a number of prisoners perish in the fire?
After agents entered the hall, they locked its doors, leaving those inside to perish in the engulfing flames.
The severity of the burns on some victims was so extreme that identification was only possible through DNA testing and samples taken from their parents. Furthermore, some witnesses reported that cadaver dogs were deployed to locate the remains of some victims.
What is the witnesses’ account of the beatings of the wounded after the shooting?
According to witnesses, many of the wounded were repeatedly beaten with batons, cables, stun guns, wooden sticks, metal objects, and even bladed weapons after being shot, a situation that persisted until morning.
One prisoner who witnessed these events firsthand reported:
“Armed agents entered the prison and slaughtered many prisoners. I personally pulled several corpses out from under the stampede.”
What do witnesses say about how some prisoners lost their lives?
The same witness observed a prisoner lose his life due to a live ammunition round striking his flank, two pellet rounds above the groin, one pellet in the side of the thigh, multiple head and neck injuries, damage to the Achilles tendon, and internal bleeding.
The family of this prisoner was denied permission to fully document the injuries, take proper photographs, or even hold a mourning ceremony. Furthermore, some of his family members were arrested to maximize pressure so that the family’s voice would not be raised against this crime.
What restrictions did the victims’ families face after the incident?
Many prisoners died due to burns, smoke inhalation, or gunshot wounds, while another group suffered pharmaceutical poisoning after rushing the infirmary and consuming certain medications.
One witness claims that the death toll was far higher than the announced statistics, reaching approximately 200 fatalities.
What claims do witnesses make regarding the transfer of bodies from Dastgerd Prison?
Another witness states that on April 1, 2026, approximately 250 bodies were moved out of the prison in the cargo bed of an orange Mercedes-Benz truck. On the night of April 2, 2026, swollen and damaged bodies were transported to the Medical Examiner’s office.
According to this account, no information was provided to the prisoners’ families until April 7, 2026. Some families who inquired were met with threats and harsh treatment, being told that their inmates were in solitary confinement.
What do the families present outside Dastgerd Prison recount about that night?
Witnesses and families who were present outside the prison state that the screams and groans of human beings could be heard from inside until morning, and the IRGC and Special Unit forces did not allow anyone to approach the site.
Some families likened these sounds to “the sound of humans being slaughtered.” According to these families, the atmosphere surrounding the prison was heavily militarized, and all access routes were blocked by military and law enforcement forces.
What is the families’ account of their final meeting with some victims?
One witness states:
“One of the victims had suffered 92% burns, with only the soles of his feet remaining unharmed. Despite this horrific condition, the family of this prisoner was denied visitation, and he passed away after two days. They even refused to hand over his body to his family and only notified them of his burial location.”
Other families have stated that they were kept in the dark about the burial sites of their loved ones for a long time and were not even permitted to attend the funerals.
Part Three
What happened to the Dastgerd Prison inmates after the clashes ended?
The Special Ward, quarantine, torture, case fabrications, and the situation of Counseling Ward 4
Following the end of the clashes, a large number of prisoners were separated from the rest of the inmate population by security forces and the Special Unit. According to multiple accounts, the names of 75 individuals were announced as “rioters,” and all of them were transferred to the Special Ward.
Why were 75 prisoners transferred to the Special Ward as “rioters”?
According to families, five of these 75 individuals lost their lives. Although the official cause of death was declared as “fire,” the families believe that these individuals were killed by gunfire from prison agents.
Based on witness accounts, the Special Ward lacked telephones and many basic amenities, and the prisoners were held in extremely harsh conditions.
How are the conditions of the prisoners held in the Special Ward described?
Another report indicates that on the day following the incident, nearly 300 prisoners were removed from various wards and transferred to the Special Ward.
Prisoners who had exited the wards and were present in the main corridors were beaten for hours while handcuffed, shackled, and blindfolded.
The prisoners were tortured with cables, batons, stun guns, and hard objects, and some were left in that condition for long hours.
What do witnesses say about the torture of prisoners after their transfer to the Special Ward?
The prisoners transferred to the Special Ward were held there for about a month with no contact with their families, inadequate facilities, and minimal food.
Throughout this entire period, families continuously visited the prison to obtain information about the status of their loved ones, but they received no clear answers.
A number of prisoners who eventually left the Special Ward were transferred to wards with even harsher conditions.
Why were new legal cases fabricated against the prisoners after the incident?
The prosecutor and the Ministry of Intelligence have attributed the damages resulting from the projectile strikes, the ammunition depot explosion, and the fires inside the prison to the prisoners, intending to demand compensation from them. For this reason, multiple new legal cases have been opened against the inmates.
According to witnesses, a “scroll of accusations” has been drawn up for some prisoners.
How is the status of Counseling Ward 4 reported months after the incident?
Other reports, months after the incident, emphasize that Counseling Ward 4 (also known as Ward 10) remains under punitive status.
Medications are withheld from sick inmates, and even specialized medicines purchased by families and delivered to the prison do not reach the prisoners.
Part Four
Were the executions following the incident linked to the events at Dastgerd Prison?
Post-incident executions, family accounts, and summary of testimonies
Alongside accounts regarding the dead and wounded from the events of March 31, 2026, some families and witnesses have spoken of the execution of a number of prisoners in the following months—executions which they believe were directly linked to the events at Dastgerd Prison.
What do families say about the execution of Reza Pedram Asivand?
Reza Pedram Asivand was executed following the events at Dastgerd Prison, and the official reason for his execution was announced as drug-related offenses. However, some witnesses believe that the drug charges had not yet been definitively proven and that his execution was carried out due to his involvement in the Dastgerd Prison events.
What questions do the accounts of witnesses and families raise about the Dastgerd Prison incidents?
The collective accounts provided by eyewitnesses, former prisoners, and families paint a picture of events that, in their view, requires an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation. These accounts include reports of projectile strikes, arson, shootings, the killing and wounding of prisoners, the transfer of bodies, the detention of prisoners in the Special Ward, torture, the fabrication of new legal cases, and the execution of certain prisoners in subsequent months.
Why are families demanding that the full dimensions of the incident be clarified?
According to the recounted narratives, many families faced ambiguity regarding the fate of their loved ones in the days and weeks following the incident, alongside restrictions on information access, a lack of accountability from officials, and difficulties in tracking the prisoners’ status. A number of them continue to demand full clarification of the details of the events, the exact number of fatalities, the treatment of the wounded, and an independent review of all dimensions of this incident.
Why is documenting the accounts of Dastgerd Prison important?
Recording the accounts of witnesses and prisoners’ families is part of the process of documenting events that occurred under conditions of communication blackouts and restricted information access. Gathering these narratives can aid in preserving documents, recording testimonies, and shedding more light on the various dimensions of the Dastgerd Prison incidents, paving the way for independent investigations and accountability for the events of March 31, 2026.
Call for Completion of Documentation and Recording of Testimonies
The Iran Human Rights Society calls upon all families of prisoners, eyewitnesses, former prisoners, informed staff, and anyone possessing information, documents, images, footage, audio files, or any supplementary news regarding the events and bloody suppression at Isfahan’s Dastgerd Prison on March 31, 2026, and thereafter, to contact us to complete the documentation process for this case. The identity and confidentiality of sources will be fully respected upon request. Every narrative, document, or new detail can play a significant role in uncovering the truth, identifying victims, accurately recording events, and documenting this case for legal and human rights follow-ups. Anyone with information in this regard is requested to connect with the Iran Human Rights Society through the communication channels below and provide their information to the documentation team.
Contact Details:
- Email: info@iranhrs.org
- Contact Form: https://iranhrs.org/contact-us/
- WhatsApp: +31 6 17325233
- Telegram: @MaryamHashemai
- Instagram: maryamhashemie2020
This information will be provided to the media, human rights organizations, and international bodies through secure and reliable channels. According to human rights activists, publishing credible documents, testimonies, and evidence regarding violations of prisoners’ rights, abuse of power, and the roles of individuals involved in this crackdown can help expose the hidden dimensions of these violations and lay the groundwork for independent investigations and official accountability.
Human rights activists emphasize that individuals who played a role in violating prisoners’ rights, applying pressure, torture, abuse, and inhumane treatment during the suppression at Isfahan’s Dastgerd Prison must not remain immune to public scrutiny and accountability. Documenting these cases and presenting them to competent international bodies can pave the way for legal action and holding the perpetrators accountable.
The documented and continuous exposure of human rights violations, in addition to aiding the realization of justice, sends a clear message to violators of prisoners’ rights: no illegal action and no behavior violating human dignity will be erased from collective memory and public opinion, and the perpetrators will sooner or later be forced to answer before competent authorities and the public.
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