Over 200 Political Prisoners in Evin Prison Protest After Inmates Including Death Row Prisoner Are Taken to Unknown Location
Hussain Hazbavi 
More than 200 political prisoners in Evin Prison have launched a collective protest after several inmates, including death-row prisoner Ehsan Afrashta, were violently beaten and transferred to an unknown location, according to reports from inside the prison.
Political prisoner and journalist Mehdi Mahmoudian posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, November 10, that the protest is part of the ongoing campaign “No to Executions Every Tuesday,” and that the action will expand on Tuesday, November 11.
Mahmoudian said security forces stormed the ward where Afrashta was being held, assaulted him severely, and transferred him while he was bleeding from the head and face. Prisoners shouted from behind the bars, chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and judiciary officials, demanding to know where Afrashta was being taken.
In addition to Afrashta, several other inmates including Mahdi Farid and Behzad Panahi, who is also facing a death sentence were reportedly taken from the visitation hall without warning and transferred to an undisclosed location.
In response, the prisoners refused their meals and began a hunger strike.
Human rights group HRANA confirmed that one prisoner experienced a seizure during the forced transfer and was treated violently before being sent to the prison clinic. HRANA added that security forces raided the political prisoners’ ward on Monday morning with the objective of removing Afrashta, triggering collective resistance and loud protests from inmates.
Political prisoners had previously succeeded in preventing the execution of Afrashta through coordinated resistance inside Evin.
Afrashta was arrested after returning from Turkey in early 2024 and was sentenced to death by Judge Abolqasem Salavati on charges of “espionage for Israel.” The sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court before being sent for a secondary review at Branch 29.
According to HRANA’s annual report, at least 1,537 executions were carried out in Iran last year, including 183 in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj one of the country’s main execution sites. The organization also reported that approximately 70 political prisoners currently face imminent execution, while more than 100 others are at risk of receiving death sentences.
