Monday, November 9th, 2009

Source: Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA)

The majority of political prisoners currently detained at Evin were transferred to ward 350 today.

HRA- The prisoners’ rights unit of HRA reports that the security office of Evin prison ordered the bulk of political prisoners to be moved from halls 7 & 8 to ward 350 of the prison today. The reopening marks the first time the political prisoners’ ward has been used since its dissolution 3 years ago.

Until mid-2007, ward 350 was reserved for prisoners of conscience, but with the appointment of Sedaghat as the warden, it was dissolved and its prisoners were redistributed in other sections inside the prison. Three years later, and with the large number of recent political prisoners, ward 350 has once again become the public ward dedicated to political prisoners.

With the exception of 13 Aban detainees and a few prisoners of conscience, the majority of political prisoners are currently detained in ward 350 under heavy security measures.

HRA had previously published a report on the current situation inside Evin and the leading role the security office plays in running the prison.