Inside Qarchak: Unveiling the Plight of Women Prisoners in Iran

Qarchak Prison—it’s been called one of the most notorious facilities in Iran. Why is it so infamous?It really lives up to that reputation. Qarchak is the only all-women’s prison in Iran, located in Varamin, about 35 kilometers southeast of Tehran. But it’s far from being a place of rehabilitation. Overcrowding, filthy living conditions, and the mistreatment of inmates make it a living nightmare.And we’re talking about political prisoners here too, right?Yes, many inmates are political prisoners or activists who’ve committed no crime other than speaking out. But they’re lumped in with dangerous criminals. It’s a blatant violation of the principle of separating prisoners by crime type, and the regime does it deliberately.Why would they do that?To pile on the pressure. It’s psychological torture. Imagine being a political prisoner and having to fear attacks from violent criminals constantly. The regime essentially uses these criminals to intimidate and even harm activists. It’s a way to kill or severely injure political prisoners without taking the blame.Support the show