On Saturday, March 28, 2020, prisoners of Alvand Prison in Hamedan protested against the regime’s refusal to release them in the wake of the spread of the Coronavirus, and some managed to escape. The IRGC and the repressive prison guards opened fire on the prisoners. Parts of the prison were set on fire during clashes between the suppressive forces and prisoners.
Yesterday, following rebellions in Khorramabad and Aligudarz prisons, prisoners in Saqqez Prison also revolted, and a large number of them managed to escape. The situation of prisoners is worsening. Many prisoners have died of Coronavirus, including in Urmia, Great Tehran Penitentiary (Fashafouyeh), and Ghezel Hesar.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), once again warned of a major catastrophe and a crime against humanity in Iranian prisons. To prevent the collective loss of lives, she called for urgent action by the United Nations Secretary-General, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the European Union to undertake an effort to secure the release of all prisoners, especially political prisoners.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 28, 2020
