In December 2020, the Iranian regime increased its physical and psychological pressure on female political prisoners, subjecting them to violence, sudden relocations, and detention without trial. They even executed two women, including Zeinab Khodamoradi in the Central Prison of Sanandaj and an unnamed woman in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the abuses these women were forces to endure.

Raid

Some 20 guards entered Ward 8 of Qarchak Prison on December 13, using batons and stun guns to attack the prisoners.

Zahra Safaei was hit in the head and is covered in bruises on her forearms. While Parastoo Mo’ini, who defended Safaei, was dragged to the floor by her hair, shot in the chest with a stun gun, and beaten on her calves.

 Forough Taghipour was thrown from one side of the cell to another, while Saba Kordafshari had injuries to her teeth, shoulder, and back. And Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee was dragged by force out of the ward and moved to Ward 2A of Evin Prison.

The prisoners were given no medical treatment and contact with the families was cut off to prevent the news from leaking.

Other prisoners began chanting in solidarity with the women on Ward 8.

Abrupt relocation

In a related manner, the following female political prisoners were moved without warning last month:

• December 5: Sepideh Farhan and Mojgan Keshavarz were moved Evin to Qarchak Prison
• December 9:  Saba Kord Afshari was transferred to Qarchak from Evin
• December 13: Sakineh Parvaneh was moved from the Prison of Quchan to the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Mashhad and then to the Central Prison of Mashhad the following day.

Denial of medical treatment

This is a common method of torture in Iranian prisons and, in addition to the women attacked on Ward 8, many women were left in agony or to die because of a lack of appropriate medical care.

Makkieh Neissi died in Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz on December 15, following a night in pain where she begged to be taken to hospital, but guards abandoned her on the quarantine ward alone.

While Monireh Arabshahi, held in Kachuii Prison, needed a test because of a swelling on her throat that was restricting her breathing, but it was not done for at least five days. She now needs surgery, but this will likely be delayed for a considerable amount of time.

Raheleh Ahmadi, held in Evin Prison, has difficulty walking and has a ruptured disc and needs to see a specialist, but this is being prevented.

Somayyeh Kargar needs medications urgently due to a rare eye disease, but guards at Evin are denying her.