Escaped Prisoners from Evin Prison
Iranian state media reported that 27 inmates from the notorious Evin prison in northern Tehran have remained at large since recent Israeli airstrikes prompted a mass escape of 75 prisoners.
A website linked to the Iranian judiciary stated that of the 75 who escaped, 48 had been recaptured following the air bombing carried out on June 23, described as part of the “Rising Operation Lion” or the “12 Day War” initiated by Israel.
The Israeli government alleged that many of those who escaped were individuals serving time for minor offenses. They have also emphasized that political prisoners—such as dissidents, journalists, and protesters—are typically held in Evin.
Earlier claims suggested that only a small number of prisoners had managed to escape after the bombing, with authorities asserting that most were swiftly recaptured.
On the same day of the airstrikes, a command center linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was targeted. Israeli forces also struck notable symbols of the Iranian regime, including a clock that counts down to a future date they declare significant for the destruction of Israel.
Evin Prison has long been viewed as a grim emblem of the regime’s brutality. It has earned the reputation of being one of the worst prisons worldwide. The U.S. Treasury Department has even imposed sanctions on prison personnel for committing torture and other forms of abuse against inmates.
Despite this, human rights organizations have expressed concerns over the Israeli attacks on prisons. Amnesty International noted that the Israeli Defense Forces caused significant civilian casualties and extensive damage across several areas of the prison complex.
One former inmate remarked on the shocking reality, saying that while the bombings themselves did not kill them, the aftermath and actions of the Islamic Republic posed a far greater danger.
Reports indicate that conditions in Iranian prisons have worsened significantly since the bombing. Some families of prisoners have suggested that the situation at Evin has shed light on the atrocious conditions in other Iranian detention facilities.
