According to information obtained by IranWire, individuals detained during the January protests in Mashhad are currently being kept in harsh and deteriorating conditions inside Vakilabad Prison.
Informed sources say that among these detainees, there are several individuals under the age of 18.
Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, is also one of the country’s most important religious centers. For readers outside Iran, Vakilabad Prison is widely known for its history of secret mass executions and chronic overcrowding. Holding minors in the same facilities as adult prisoners violates international human rights standards, yet such practices have increasingly been reported during the regime’s crackdowns on “Generation Z” protesters.
The information received indicates that, due to a lack of space in the prison, a significant number of detainees have been kept in the quarantine ward of Vakilabad Prison for an extended period.
This comes even though quarantine wards are typically meant for the short-term detention of newly arrived inmates, allowing authorities to monitor their health before moving them to general wards, and they are not equipped with basic facilities.
