What to Know About Iran’s Notorious Evin Prison
The New York Times: On June 23, 2025, Israel’s military launched an airstrike on Iran’s Evin prison, a notorious detention center located in Tehran. The prison, long condemned by human rights organizations, is known for housing political prisoners, dissidents, activists, and foreign nationals. While the reasons behind the Israeli strike remain unclear, it has drawn international attention due to the facility’s grim history and symbolic significance.
Evin prison, situated on a hilltop at the base of the Alborz Mountains in northern Tehran, is tightly secured by electrified fences and even a surrounding minefield. It holds thousands of inmates, including journalists, students, environmentalists, and opposition figures. Dual nationals and foreign citizens accused of espionage are also frequently detained there, often as leverage in diplomatic negotiations.
Iranian state media, IRNA, reported that the facility sustained damage from projectiles but maintained that control over the prison had not been lost. Videos analyzed by The New York Times show rescue workers removing debris from a collapsed entrance and another impact near a visitation center about 600 yards from the main gate. No casualties have been reported, and the full extent of the damage is still unclear.
Evin’s reputation as a symbol of state oppression dates back to its establishment in 1971 under the rule of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. During this period, it became infamous for harsh conditions imposed by the secret police. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which replaced the monarchy with a theocracy under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Evin’s notoriety only deepened. In 1988, thousands of prisoners—many political opponents—were executed after hasty trials, a massacre documented by Human Rights Watch.
The prison gained renewed attention in 2022 during widespread protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s dress code. Evin held several protestors during this period. A large fire erupted in the prison during the unrest, accompanied by gunfire and explosions. Eight people were reportedly injured, though the cause of the blaze was never clarified.
Conditions within Evin remain appalling, according to former detainees. Reports from human rights groups and past prisoners describe routine torture, sexual abuse, solitary confinement, and psychological trauma. Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was held at Evin in December 2024, recalled being deprived of her glasses, interrogated for hours while blindfolded, and forced to sleep without a mattress or pillow under constant light.
Foreign nationals have long been used by Iran as pawns in diplomatic disputes. Two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been imprisoned there since 2022 on espionage charges. France denies the accusations and has condemned their treatment as torture. France’s foreign minister confirmed they were unharmed in the strike but called the attack “unacceptable,” while again urging Iran to release the pair. France recently filed a case against Iran at the International Court of Justice.
Evin prison remains a grim symbol of Iran’s authoritarian control—and now, a target in a growing regional conflict.
Matthew Mpoke Bigg is a London-based reporter on the Live team at The Times, which covers breaking and developing news.