Israeli Airstrikes on Evin Prison Condemned as War Crimes by HRW
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has denounced the Israeli airstrikes on Evin Prison in Tehran on June 23, 2025, as unlawfully indiscriminate and a clear violation of international law, amounting to apparent war crimes, reports 24brussels.
The strikes, which occurred between 11:17 a.m. and 12:18 p.m., targeted multiple buildings within the 43-hectare prison complex during visiting hours, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 individuals, including prisoners, family members, and staff. HRW underlined that the attack lacked any evident military target, exacerbating the impact on civilians due to its timing.
Evin Prison is well-known for housing political dissidents and activists, many of whom are detained unlawfully. The airstrikes inflicted severe damage on critical facilities such as the visitation hall, central kitchen, medical clinic, and the wards holding political prisoners. Eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery revealed widespread destruction across multiple buildings, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the assault.
HRW conducted interviews with 22 individuals, including relatives of victims and former prisoners, alongside analyzing video footage, photographs, and satellite imagery to assess the damage. Political prisoners Abolfazl Ghadiani and Mehdi Mahmoudian recounted hearing repeated explosions and witnessing the medical clinic engulfed in flames. Reports indicate that prisoners managed to recover 15 to 20 bodies from the rubble soon after the attack.
One particularly harrowing account was given by Dr. Saeedeh Makarem, a volunteer at the prison’s clinic, who was rescued from the debris and subsequently underwent major surgery, including hand replantation. Iranian state media confirmed the death of a physician at the clinic during the strike.
HRW reached out to both Israeli and Iranian authorities on July 2 and July 7, respectively, seeking clarification and accountability. As of mid-August, both governments have yet to provide any substantial responses. HRW has called for a thorough investigation and for those deemed responsible to be held accountable under international law.
The assault on Evin Prison unfolded amid a wider 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13 and concluded with a ceasefire on June 24. The conflict involved Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military installations and missile attacks from Iran on Israeli cities. Tensions escalated further with U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting Iranian retaliation against U.S. bases in Qatar.
While the Israeli military asserted that intelligence activity was taking place within the prison, HRW found no evidence supporting the existence of a legitimate military target. The organization stated that the airstrikes placed previously vulnerable prisoners at grave risk, many of whom were victims of Iranian state repression.
The incident has elicited widespread international concern, with Amnesty International also advocating for a war crimes investigation. The absence of any warning prior to the strike and the targeting of civilian infrastructure during peak visitation times has further intensified calls for accountability.
As tensions between Israel and Iran remain elevated, the airstrikes on Evin Prison are viewed as one of the most contentious events of the June 2025 conflict. Human rights advocates emphasize that without transparent investigations and justice for the victims, such violations may risk becoming normalized in subsequent confrontations.
