Nationwide Protests: At least 150 Women and Female Students Transferred to Shiraz Prison

HRANA – At least 150 women detained in connection with the nationwide protests, most of whom are female students, have been transferred to the political ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, a ward that lacks the capacity and facilities to accommodate this number of prisoners.

Based on information received by HRANA, the majority of these 150 detained women are female students. They have been transferred to the political ward of Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, a room that does not even have sufficient space for 30 people. Additionally, a number of other detained women have been moved to wards designated for prisoners accused of murder, drug-related crimes, theft, as well as to the juvenile ward.

According to informed sources, over the past two weeks, the women’s ward in this prison has been without telephone access, and limited, booth-style visits were only allowed during the second week. Moreover, food shortages have resulted in a single standard meal, previously allocated to one prisoner, now being shared among four people. In addition, for the past two months, certain food items such as fresh produce have not been supplied to the prison; items available at the prison store are scarce and expensive, and even drinking water is not provided to prisoners. Female prisoners housed in the prayer hall must also queue after 11 a.m. and go to the quarantine ward in order to use restroom and bathing facilities.

At the same time, several female prisoners from wards for financial and political crimes, including Hakimeh Honarmandi, a political prisoner, and Roya Sabet, a Baha’i citizen, have been transferred to the prison’s prayer hall, a space that lacks even basic sanitary facilities.

The identities of those detained, as well as the number of individuals under the age of 18 among them, are still under investigation by HRANA.

It is worth noting that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on Sunday, December 28, and after two days extended beyond bazaars and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became one of the most widespread demonstrations in recent years. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the twenty-ninth day of the protests, which was published last night.