Iran: Evin Prison and White Torture
Section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison has come under intense international scrutiny. Allegations of torture and abusive interrogation (White torture,Shekanjeh-e Sefid or شكنجه سفيد) marring the declaration of Iran as a democratic country. The Prison acts outside the control of the prison authorities, drawing criticism from human rights groups and activists.
A recent reporting by Amnesty international, claimed that Amir Abbas Fakhravar had been tortured by Iran’s revolutionary guards inside of Evin Prison. This marked the first known abuse of human rights within the prison. Amnesty went on to discuss what “white torture” involved.
“his cells had no windows, and the walls and his clothes were white. His meals consisted of white rice on white plates. To use the toilet, he had to put a white piece of paper under the door. He was forbidden to speak, and the guards reportedly wore shoes that muffled sound”
The event reveals the larger scope of pressurizing journalists and political dissidents from expressing their opinion. While most of the detainees are released, the threat of capture looms.
Targets also include 35 members of Iran’s Women’s movement. Teachers advocating increases in pension plans and wages, along with a variety students.
On what charges you may ask?
On the surface, the detentions are justified by what is known as “Offenses Against the National and International Security of the Country”, or simply the “security laws”. Which as you can imagine grants the government leeway in doing as they please. Charges are also corroborated, not by the actions taken by an individual, but by the connections an individual has, making it even easier to incriminate and detain due to the fact that this is knowledge that only the government can verify.
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