ANKARA - Prisons have become one of the most determined areas of resistance after the assassination of Jina Emînî. Prisoners continue their protests despite torture, isolation and death threats. "The first protests started in the women's ward," said lawyer Leila Azadeh. 

 

The death of 22-year-old Jîna Emînî, who was murdered on 16 September 2022 after being detained by the Irshad Patrol in Tehran, the capital of Iran, provoked reactions not only in Iran but all over the world. The protests that grew with the slogan "Jin, jiyan, azadî" turned streets, universities, factories and prisons into sites of resistance. 

 

Women who spearheaded the protests were targeted by the Iranian regime. The women were prosecuted and were given different punishments such as house arrest, flogging and imprisonment. Human rights activists group announced that at least 3 thousand 953 women were arrested between 9 March 2022 and 7 March 2023. On the other hand, dozens of people detained for participating in Jîna Emînî protests were executed. Despite all this, especially women, students and prisoners, whom the Iranian regime has been trying to silence for years, raised their voices even louder in this process. Prisons have been one of the most determined areas of this struggle. Prisoners continued their protests despite torture, isolation and death threats.

 

As the news of Jina Emînî's murder reached the prisons, many political prisoners, especially women prisoners, announced their support for the protests. Political prisoners in Evin, Urmia, Rasht and other large prisons issued a joint statement. In some prisons, slogans were shouted and clashes with guards took place. The big fire that broke out in Evin Prison in Tehran on 15 October 2022 was directly related to the prisoners' revolt. Although there were contradictions in official statements, inside information showed that the fire was the result of a protest action.

 

Prisoners in women's prisons kept the memory of Jîna Emînî alive by cutting their hair. Some women prisoners went on hunger strike. These strikes, led especially by Kurdish women prisoners, were carried out simultaneously with the protests outside. Prominent human rights defenders, such as human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nargis Mohammadi, have repeatedly sent protest messages from prison. 

 

THE PROTEST THAT STARTED IN EVIN PRISON CONTINUES  

 

Women held in Evin Prison started a sit-in protest in the prison courtyard on 14 September 2023. The women prisoners, who protest the executions every Tuesday, also continue their hunger strike. This strike, which started in Evin Prison, continues by spreading to many prisons. 

 

We talked about the resistance that started in prisons after Jina Emînî and still continues, with the lawyer in Iran, whose name we have changed to Leila Azadeh for security reasons. 

 

FIRST REACTION FROM WOMEN'S WARD 

 

Leila Azadeh stated that political prisoners increased their protests as they received information from outside and said, "The first protests started in Evin Prison, where a high number of political prisoners are held. Prisoners set fire to many cells and then these protests spread to Tabriz and Sinai prisons. As prisoners joined the protests, the pressure in prisons increased. Iran has previously witnessed human rights abuses against prisoners. Since the protests began in prisons, prisoners have faced restrictions on communication, bans on visits and various forms of physical and psychological torture. Many prisoners were punished for participating in the protests." Leila Azadeh noted that women in Iran have been at the forefront in every field for a long time and emphasised that the regime puts the most pressure on women. Leila Azadeh said, "Although it seems that men are more likely to receive the death penalty, women receive heavy penalties even for the simplest actions. Women face more rights violations than men. That is why they are more vocal. The first protests started in the women's ward after the murder of Jina Emînî. Protests against death sentences also started in women's wards. Political prisoners show almost the same determination, but the actions of women are more striking because they reject both the roles assigned to them by society and state authority," she said. 

 

OUTSTANDING ACCUSATIONS

 

Commenting on the judicial process for those arrested for participating in the protests, Leila Azadeh said: "This process is different for each prisoner. The city where the arrest took place, the number of soldiers killed in the protests and the political importance of the city affect this process. The right to defence is an ideal concept in Iran. Even many ordinary prisoners do not fully enjoy this right. Many are sentenced without access to a lawyer and appeals by families or detainees are rejected. Sometimes detainees are executed even when lawyers appeal to other courts. An example is the case of Mohammed Husseini. Some protest participants did not have the opportunity to defend themselves in court; some had 15 minutes, others 20-25. Some trials lasted no longer than 30 minutes, including the charges. A political prisoner is unlikely to escape the death penalty. In Iran, the future of the regime depends more on judicial decisions than on the law. The Iranian judicial system has many unique laws that go far beyond the classical laws and are considered sacred. Acts against the regime and the state are subject to very harsh penalties. Drugs and murder also attract the death penalty. There are exceptions for murder; if you kill someone and you make a deal with their family, give them money and are pardoned, you will serve some time in prison. However, the chances of pardon for anti-state offences are very low. Among the most prominent charges during the uprising were 'disturbing public order, endangering national security, conspiracy to overthrow the state, treason, espionage, sedition and declaring war on God'." 

 

AFTER THE IRAN-ISRAEL WAR 

 

Leila Azadeh pointed out that the Iranian regime has suffered great losses after the war with Israel and stated that there is a great social, military and economic collapse. Stating that the regime does not want any action against it. "That is why executions have started and I think they will execute a few more people associated with the protests. This scares the people. They want people to be afraid and stay away from the streets," she said. 

 

PROTESTS CONTINUE IN PRISONS

 

Leila Azadeh said that people are killed every day in Iran and many of them are accused of crimes without evidence. "International states take many political actions when it is in their interests, but they remain silent when Iranians are executed. Imposing economic sanctions on the regime does not democratise those countries. I am not talking about occupation, but more serious pressures can be applied. Popular solidarity is important, but we see that everyone is busy with their own problems. Or they speak out against what is popular. On other issues there are silent spectators. Social pressure compels states to take action." 

 

Underlining that the resistance in prisons continues, Leila Azadeh stated that hunger strikes are held every Tuesday. She concluded: "These protests are mostly against executions. Some prisoners individually organise protests to raise their voices against fair trials and executions. However, the most common form of protest is the 'no to the death penalty' protests organised every Tuesday." 

 

MA / Zemo Ağgöz