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Iran-HRM – On Saturday, December 17, 2022, prisoners held in the Central Prison of Karaj protested to prevent the transfer of four prisoners who are sentenced to death by Iran’s Judiciary. These prisoners began chanting “Death to Khamenei.” Protesting prisoners from halls (Wards) 2, 3 and 5 of the prison intended to prevent further executions of Iranians.
The names and identities of the four prisoners facing the death penalty are yet unknown. Prison authorities summoned these inmates from the halls to carry out the death penalty. They were taken to solitary confinement, two of the death-row prisoners were transferred from Hall 2 in Central Prison of Karaj.
As prison proceedings were carried out, protests by inmates in various halls started shaping. formed in p halls took place. Prisoners also chanted “Death to the dictator” and other slogans against the Iranian regime’s leaders.
Around 17:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2022, fire trucks, motorcycle police forces, and other state security forces as well as ambulances entered the prison’s premises.
One informed source acknowledged that prisoners were shot by Iran’s security forces. The sound of gunfire was heard from outside Karaj’s Central Prison. Phone lines were also disconnected amid the attack.
Armed forces in front of the prison did not allow prisoners’ families to have presence in the area or to inquire about their loved ones.
Many prisoners’ lives are in great danger. About 50 inmates were taken to a civil hospital after encountering severe injuries. One prisoner, Mohsen Mansouri, died of a direct bullet shot to his head.
Nearly 80 prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement from Halls 2, 3 and 4. The prosecutor of Karaj entered this prison and announced to the prisoners that anyone taken to solitary confinement during the riot would most certainly be punished by death.
During the clashes, prisoners broke down the halls’ doors, attempting to rescue themselves. Security forces shot pellets at prisoners and actively used semi-heavy weapons as well as live ammunition. Prison authorities deny doctors to treat those who remain injured inside the prison, who count to 90 per cent of the prisoners from these three halls.
Before this violent incident, 12 inmates sentenced to death, had already been transferred. Four inmates were previously removed from one similar Ward and eight others from another. Among the 12 previously taken, detainees of recent protests in Iran were witnessed.
Barrages of gunshots along with tear gas and smoke were heavily used without a moment of interruption. The smoke caused was so high that the prisoners could not breathe. Prison guards and riot forces clashed with prisoners for an hour and a half.
Despite the fact of at least 100 prisoners left severely injured and at least two killed, officials began to film the stable conditions of those wards that were not involved in the clashes. Their aim was to cover up the state crime. With the clashes breaking out, prisoners who were not directly engaged had been forced back to their wards and refrained from going outdoors. Prison officials closed the doors on them so none would be informed of the crimes taking place.
Continuing Sunday, December 18, 2022, the overall atmosphere inside the prison remained tense and no one was yet allowed to make any phone calls. The prison’s gas circulation was turned off creating extreme cold. With the review of CCTV recordings from Hall 2, Sunday afternoon, several other inmates were transferred to solitary confinement.
With the brutal attack followed by the violent killing of prisoner Mohsen Mansouri on Saturday evening, prisoners’ families remain extremely concerned about the lives of their loved ones.
Detained protester, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, facing imminent execution in Karaj’s Central Prison stated his well-being in a short call to his family. Considering Iran’s recent vote against the United Nations General Assembly-UNGA’s resolution on a moratorium to use the death penalty, and given its hasty execution of two young protesters, Iran HRM calls on the fact-finding mission to investigate this heinous crime against prisoners. HRM urges all human rights organizations and country’s representatives present at UN to hold Iran responsible for this violent attack. The regime’s leaders, Ali Khamenei and Ebrahim Raisi, must be held accountable for taking away the right to life of prisoners.
