Israeli Strike On Tehran’s Evin Prison Kills 71, Including Civilians And Prison Staff

 

An Israeli airstrike on Iran’s Evin Prison in Tehran on Monday left 71 people dead, according to Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s official news outlet.

Among the dead were prison staff, conscripted soldiers, inmates, visiting family members, legal visitors, and residents living near the facility, said judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir on Sunday. The strike also caused significant damage to the surrounding area, state-affiliated Fars News Agency reported.

Evin Prison, long notorious for its harsh conditions and human rights abuses, has held numerous political prisoners, journalists, and artists over the years. The strike on its entrance marks a rare and controversial escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Israel’s Defense Minister confirmed Evin Prison was among several targets hit during the operation, along with the main building of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the headquarters of the Basij, a paramilitary wing of the IRGC. No detailed explanation for the prison strike was provided.

The attack has sparked international condemnation. France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, criticized the operation for endangering two detained French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been imprisoned in Iran since 2022 on espionage charges. Their arrest followed a forced televised confession widely denounced by human rights groups.

“A strike on Evin Prison in Tehran put in danger two of our nationals. It’s unacceptable,” Barrot said in a statement on X.

The strike came during a 12-day exchange of hostilities between Israel and Iran, which began after an initial Israeli attack earlier in the month. A ceasefire was announced late Monday, bringing a temporary halt to the escalating military actions.