ALL EYES MUST BE ON POLITICAL PRISONERS IN IRAN
The combination of armed conflict and systematic state
March 5, 2026
As military strikes and regional conflict continue to escalate, a humanitarian emergency is also unfolding behind prison walls in Iran. The lives of political prisoners are in immediate and extreme danger.
The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) has received deeply alarming reports that political prisoners are being transferred from official detention facilities to undisclosed locations, including sites controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Credible fears indicate that detainees may be used as human shields or deliberately placed in harm’s way as military operations intensify.
At the same time, other reports indicate that prisoners are being abandoned inside facilities without adequate food, medication or access to basic supplies. As hostilities escalate, detainees are being left defenceless, trapped inside prison compounds with no protection from airstrikes and no guarantee of sustenance or medical care.
This convergence of war and repression has created a life-threatening situation for thousands of defenceless prisoners. Immediate international attention and intervention are urgently required.
Forced Transfers, Disappearances, and Starvation
Since the January massacre and the regime’s severe communication blackout, information coming out of Iran has been extremely limited. This lack of transparency significantly heightens the danger to prisoners.
Reports received by CFPPI include:
· Political prisoners and newly detained individuals from Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan have reportedly been transported by bus to unknown destinations.
· On March 2, 2026, political prisoners held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison were transferred to undisclosed locations. Families and lawyers have not been informed of their whereabouts, raising urgent concerns of enforced disappearance.
· Families of prisoners in Evin Prison report that detainees were denied food as attacks began, and cell doors were sealed. After regular prison officials reportedly withdrew, special NOPO security forces affiliated with the IRGC took control of the facility.
· From Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, sources report that on the evening of March 1, prisoners—fearing for their lives—protested and demanded transfer to a safe shelter. Anti-riot forces allegedly stormed the prison, violently beat inmates, and confined many to solitary cells in basement sections notorious for inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These same areas are reportedly used to hold prisoners prior to execution.
· On March 2, the administrative section and food supply facilities of Greater Tehran Penitentiary (Fashafouyeh) in southern Tehran were reportedly heavily damaged during airstrikes. As a result, prisoners are being deprived of food supplies, and those in need of medication are unable to access life-saving treatment.
The vast majority of political prisoners currently have no contact with their families.
Escalating Nationwide Repression during war
Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are deployed across cities throughout Iran as the conflict escalates. Reports indicate that executions of prisoners are continuing despite the ongoing war. Arrests of citizens also continue, with new detainees reportedly facing prosecution and the issuance of additional execution sentences.
In the city of Sanandaj, residents have reportedly received threatening messages warning that any attempt to protest will be met with violent retaliation. On 4 March 2026, the regime’s judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, publicly threatened that “those who say or do anything in support of the U.S.–Israeli airstrikes” would face harsh punishment.
There are also alarming reports that IRGC forces are using civilian facilities, including schools and hospitals, for military purposes.
The combination of armed conflict and systematic state repression has created an extraordinarily volatile and lethal situation for prisoners. History shows that the regime in Iran have repeatedly exploited moments of crisis and war to intensify repression and eliminate dissent.
Violations of International Law
Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, civilians and detainees must be protected during armed conflict. The Convention strictly prohibits collective punishment, unlawful transfers, and exposing protected persons to the dangers of military operations.
International humanitarian law requires that all detainees be safeguarded from hostilities. The transfer of prisoners to military-controlled sites or exposing them to active military targets may constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions.
No government may use war as a pretext for enforced disappearance, starvation, torture, or execution.
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran calls on:
· All governments worldwide, The European Union, The United Nations
To take immediate, public, and decisive action to pressure the Regime in Iran to:
· Immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and detainees in Iran
· Publicly disclose the whereabouts of all transferred prisoners
· Ensure access to food, medical care, legal representation, and family contact
Time is running out.
The international community must act now to prevent another tragedy.
Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) 🌐 www.cfppi.org
For Media Inquiries: Shiva Mahbobi, Spokeswoman 📧 shiva.mahbobi@gmail.com 📞 +44 7572 356666
For additional context on the dire conditions facing political prisoners even before the recent attack see the link below: https://tinyurl.com/4dcmkwdy
We ask concerned individuals to please use the form on our website to send a letter to your government: https://cfppi.org/urgent-action-required-write-to-officials-about-crimes-against-humanity-in-iran/