NCRI Committee Urges UN Action on Iran Prison Conditions
The NCRI Women Committee alerts the UN to severe neglect in Iranian prisons, citing sewage floods and denied medical care for female detainees.
Key points
- NCRI Women Committee reports sewage floods and disease in Fardis Prison despite offers to fund repairs.
- Two women, Zahra Tabari and Arghavan Fallahi, face death sentences for alleged PMOI membership.
- Kurdish prisoner Zeinab Jalalian lost eyesight due to prolonged denial of medical care and treatment.
The Women’s Committee of the NCRI has addressed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for immediate international intervention regarding the deteriorating conditions within Iranian prisons. The committee asserts that female political prisoners are facing systematic violations of their rights, including overcrowding, unsanitary environments, and a critical lack of access to medical treatment.
According to the petition, these issues are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of repression. The group warns that the current environment threatens the health and dignity of detainees, with specific emphasis on the plight of women who are reportedly being denied basic necessities and fair trial guarantees.
Sanitation Failures in Fardis Facility
Particular concern has been raised regarding Fardis Prison in Karaj, where reports indicate that sewage has flooded the recreation area of the women’s ward. Detainees, including political prisoners such as Masoumeh Senobari and Atefeh Hassani, are said to have suffered from gastrointestinal illnesses without receiving medical attention. Prison officials reportedly cited budget shortages for the lack of repairs, despite the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran offering to cover the full cost of the necessary infrastructure work.
The refusal to act on this offer has been characterized by the committee as deliberate neglect rather than a resource issue. This incident highlights the severity of the humanitarian crisis, where basic hygiene standards are being abandoned, exposing vulnerable populations to preventable diseases in a setting where medical support is already scarce.
Death Sentences and Medical Neglect
Beyond infrastructural issues, the committee highlights the grave legal risks facing several women. Zahra Tabari, a 68-year-old detainee, and Arghavan Fallahi, 25, have reportedly been sentenced to death on charges related to their membership in the PMOI. International observers have warned that these cases reflect a wider trend of political executions and systematic repression within the country’s justice system.
The case of Kurdish political prisoner Zeinab Jalalian is cited as a stark example of the consequences of medical neglect. According to the report, years of denied treatment have resulted in the loss of her eyesight. Authorities are said to have conditioned any medical leave on coerced televised confessions, a tactic the committee argues is designed to suppress dissent rather than provide care.
Pressure Extends to Families
The repercussions of these policies extend beyond the prison walls to the families of those detained. The NCRI Women Committee reports that relatives of political prisoners and PMOI supporters have faced interrogation, threats, and restrictions on their movements. These actions are intended to increase psychological pressure on the detainees and silence their support networks, creating an atmosphere of fear that permeates communities across Iran.
As the situation continues to evolve, attention will likely turn to the response from UN special rapporteurs and the European Parliament’s human rights subcommittee. The next phase will depend on whether these international bodies translate their concerns into concrete diplomatic actions or investigations that could alter the treatment of prisoners in Iran.
