Exclusive: Faezeh Hashemi Unveils Suffering and Tyranny in Evin Prison

IranWire has obtained a letter about the condition of the women's ward in Evin Prison, written by political activist Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of later Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

In the letter, Hashemi criticizes the behavior of some women political prisoners, describing certain dynamics as "fascist behavior." She draws a parallel between these actions and the broader approach of the Islamic Republic towards society.

Hashemi was arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic" and "disturbing public order by participating in unauthorized gatherings." 

At the beginning of her letter, Hashemi says she has faced pressure from security forces since 1991 and has been summoned for investigation and trial in 12 cases.

Reflecting on the relationships among the prisoners, Hashemi compares the "small prison space, housing 65 inmates" to Iran's population of 90 million. She notes that, unlike the government, which holds all the "tools of tyranny and oppression," prisoners lack similar power.

She adds: "We are decades away from institutionalizing democracy, which is a prerequisite for reforming both society and government."

She writes, "Evin Prison’s women’s political ward is a neighborhood of familiar fighters, filled with both good and bad memories, bitter and sweet moments, shared beliefs, and sometimes divergent actions. 

"There are loud theorists, but little action. Some behave like small dictators, imposing what they fought against on their fellow prisoners. Those who are less able to stand up to them suffer from narrow-mindedness, slander, and character assassination. Sometimes, it even escalates to physical violence."

Hashemi adds, "In this environment, some prisoners act like an internal pressure group – assigning tasks, defining red lines, and depriving others of their freedom. They stigmatize, slander, and threaten anyone who disagrees with them, creating an atmosphere of terror and suffocation. Why? Because someone didn’t follow their lead, criticized them, or challenged their authority. Even more disturbingly, some other well-known figures remain silent or complicit in this oppressive behavior."

According to Hashemi, over 90 percent of the prisoners in Evin’s women’s ward are newcomers, many of whom are left "shocked and regretful" after a week, realizing that "the people we wanted to meet are not who we thought they were."

Hashemi highlights instances such as voting sessions where the votes of some political prisoners were not counted. She also points out that some prisoners are labeled as "hired" or "on a mission."

She further describes how exaggerated and false news about prisoners and events is spread inside the jail. Those who protest are accused of "normalizing cruelty," she notes.

During the presidential election, some imprisoned women wanted to vote, but others "stood in the corridor from 8 am to 12 pm, blocking the way like security agents and preventing them from voting." The atmosphere was so tense that even the prison guards were afraid to open the door, she claims.

Writing the letter on the condition of women political prisoners, Hashemi explains that publishing it was "one of the hardest decisions of her 60-year life."

She ended the letter with a personal note: "Recently, my cousin, who strongly believes in the meaning of dreams, told me she dreamt that I was killed in prison by my cellmates. I'm just saying, it's up to you."