A reformist-leaning Iranian Telegram channel on Wednesday published the names of 64 women it said are jailed for political reasons, challenging Iran's judiciary chief who said no more than five such detainees exist.
“This list concerns female political prisoners in Gharchak prison and a handful of other known cases. It does not cover other cities or prisons across the country,” Tahkim Mellat said in its statement, adding that the document was presented solely for civic and legal follow-up.
Qarchak Prison is a women’s facility southeast of Tehran, known for holding political prisoners in poor and overcrowded conditions, according to rights groups.
The announcement came after judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said he had asked political groups to provide names of detainees.
Ejei argued that reformist figures had admitted identifying “no more than three to five” prisoners, calling on them to announce this publicly.
Yet Tahkim Mellat countered that in Gharchak prison alone more than 60 women are held for political activity.
'No transparency'
The names include Raheleh Rahimi Pour, a 75-year-old suffering from a brain tumor, and Kobra Beigi, 70, who was excluded from a 2023 amnesty.
Several other political prisoners who face death sentences were also named including, Sharifeh Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, and Varisheh Moradi.
“The demand for the release of political prisoners had previously been raised by individuals and groups within civil society as a political necessity; however, until now, the government and political parties have taken no action to recognize or pursue the rights of more than just a few political prisoners,” reads the statement by the outlet.
“This silence and lack of transparency by political officials has resulted in a large number of political prisoners remaining in detention without adequate support or attention.”
Calls for accountability
Responding last week to Ejei’s remarks, veteran reformist commentator Emadeddin Baghi said the judiciary “certainly does not need to request a list from others if it wishes to prepare a more complete and accurate one.”
Independent civic associations, if not restricted, could provide more reliable data, Baghi added.
“What matters,” Baghi said, “is to set clear criteria — such as prioritizing prisoners near the end of their sentences, those whose convictions are disproportionate, or those eligible for parole under the law — rather than debating whether the number is five or sixty.”
Tahkim Mellat said officials have a duty to respond to the list it published.
“Today America and some European countries are seeking to expand unilateralism and impose their views on other nations,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. “This approach has not been and will not be tolerable for you or for us.”
Pezeshkian, who arrived in Belarus on Tuesday night, said Tehran and Minsk enjoyed “broad common ground” not only in bilateral relations but also in regional and international forums, citing the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS as platforms for cooperation.
“Western countries led by America want to force us to move according to their will,” he said. “But Iran and Belarus believe they lack nothing compared with countries that impose sanctions, and that together they can overcome sanctions and difficulties.”
Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia, welcomed Pezeshkian and said: “Belarus is a friendly country and a reliable partner for Iran. You have come to a friend.” He assured his Iranian counterpart that Minsk wanted to expand cooperation and resolve obstacles to existing agreements.
"In conditions of geopolitical turbulence, Minsk and Tehran are undertaking consistent and balanced steps to further develop cooperation, and are working hard to turn each new challenge into a new opportunity," Belarusian state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.
"We are ready to discuss any issues, we have no closed topics," Lukashenko said, adding that the two countries could partner across a range of areas including "military-technical cooperation".
Recalling his own visit to Tehran, Lukashenko said: “I have very good memories from this trip, especially the meeting with the Supreme Leader of Iran. I ask you to convey my best wishes to him. I believe that there are no closed paths before us and we can elevate our relations to the highest levels.”
The two leaders witnessed the signing of 12 cooperation documents in areas including politics, international law, tourism, culture, media, health, pharmaceuticals, industry, environment, free zones, special economic zones and investment, as well as a joint statement.
Pezeshkian also laid a wreath at Minsk’s Victory Square memorial before beginning his official meetings. His trip to Belarus followed a state visit to Armenia earlier this week.
“In recent weeks, multiple reports have surfaced about a facility in Shahin Shahr officially designated as a ‘prison employment site,’ which in practice has become a warehouse for holding hundreds of inmates in harsh, inhuman conditions,” the group said.
The facility is described as a large warehouse with a small yard fenced off with barbed wire, lacking the basic standards of an official prison. Photographs published by the group show the area but do not provide verifiable coordinates due to concealment and security measures.
“Despite its name, no job training or rehabilitation takes place there. Instead, around 100 prisoners are bussed out daily from 5 a.m. and put to work in conditions resembling forced labor.”
Iran International can not independently verify the report.
Harsh conditions and deprivation
Prisoners endure overcrowding without cooling or ventilation systems, the rights group added. Water and electricity are cut for three days each week, and detainees are given only minimal food.
“Food and bread are provided in very small and poor-quality amounts… daily rations are just two loaves of bread and low-quality food.”
No medical services are available, and the only drugs regularly distributed are sedatives and methadone, pushing many inmates to forced consumption, wrote the Iran Human Rights Society.
“Reports from Shahin Shahr prison paint a disturbing picture of a hidden and illegal detention site… a place for added deprivation, forced labor, and psychological and physical pressure,” the report said, urging international bodies to press Iran to meet its human rights obligations.
