The high-security detention center of Evin looms like a fortress, its interconnected cells a labyrinth of despair.
Each cell, whether for solitary or communal confinement, bears the marks of oppression. Sealed entrances and exits, illuminated by ceaseless lights, ensure perpetual surveillance. Blindfolds are mandatory for movement outside the cell, a precaution against encountering the watchful gaze of intelligence officers.
Evin Prison, located in Tehran, Iran, is notorious for its harsh conditions and widespread human rights abuses. Used to incarcerate political prisoners and dissidents, it has gained international attention for its history of torture, solitary confinement, and coerced confessions. Despite numerous calls for reform and intervention from human rights organizations, Evin Prison remains a symbol of repression and injustice within Iran.
In December 2022 Mohammedreza Shekariyanasl together with 12 other members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light found himself trapped in Evin Prison - subjected to its harsh realities and torment.
He described how the relentless glare of lights, burning twenty-four hours a day, robbed prisoners of sleep and sanity. "Blindfolded and berated, we were stripped of our dignity and humanity," Mohammedreza recalls.
But how did a 35 year old assistant director end up in one of the most notorious security prisons in all of Iran?
In 2019 the Iranian regime launched a propaganda campaign against AROPL. They even went as far as to publish a documentary about the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. The documentary featured major scholars of the Iranian regime, all of whom considered the beliefs of AROPL to be “heretical”.
In 2019, following Iranian propaganda, the Iranian government raided the homes of three members of the AROPL, detaining them and subjecting them to torture and beatings in front of their loved ones. Mohammadreza was one of them.
His life took a drastic turn when his house in the heart of Tehran was raided by Iranian authorities. Blindfolded and taken into custody, he endured eleven days of solitary confinement, subjected to relentless questioning about his beliefs. His crime? Proclaiming his faith as a member of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light on social media.
For Mohammadreza, the consequences were severe. He was sentenced to two years of exile from his home city Tehran and was forced to reside far from his family, grappling with the anguish of separation and the uncertainty of the future. Mohammadreza Shekariyanasl's ordeal echoes the harrowing experiences of fellow believers Mohammadreza Chitsazanmoghaddam.
Mohammadreza Chitsazanmoghaddam, a resident of Babel, fell victim to the Iranian authorities' ruthless crackdown on religious dissent in 2019 as well. A barrage of police cars descended on his home, with over 20 officers launching a violent assault in front of his traumatized family. Accused of "insulting the leadership" and opposing the regime's principles, he faced a sham trial that resulted in a five-year probation sentence and the seizure of his assets. Disowned by his extended family and threatened with death, he was forced to flee his hometown.
Since these detentions in 2019, fear has permeated the lives of AROPL members in Iran, often refraining from expressing their thoughts online. However, community gatherings and spreading the message globally are fundamental aspects of their faith.
Yet, even after completing his sentence, Shekariyanasl’s torment continued. In December 2022, Shekariyanasl and 12 other members, accompanied by 2 children, were intercepted by the Ministry of Intelligence while traveling together. The agents opened fire on their vehicles, suggesting they had been under surveillance. Subsequently, the group was violently assaulted. Shekariyanasl endured further brutality. For simply requesting water for the children, Iranian Intelligence Officers forced his head under a car tire in an attempt to end his life.
This is when they were transferred to the infamous Evin Prison, where they faced severe torture and coerced confessions to false accusations. The Iranian Human Rights organization HRANA reported on the incident and demanded their immediate relief.
Muhammadreza Shekariyanasl recounts the horrific conditions “ The number of interrogation sessions varied from person to person, with some being interrogated up to 30 times or more. Sometimes, there were two or three sessions a day, each lasting several hours, without breaks for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In each session they first tried to intimidate us. If that didn't work, they resorted to insulting our family and friends to agitate us and elicit incriminating statements.”
In a remarkable display of compassion amidst adversity, Mohammadreza Shekariyanasl’s humanity shone through even in the darkest of times. During his detention, he forged an unlikely friendship with Santiago Sanches, a Spanish national unjustly confined in Evin Prison for a year.
Through violence and intimidation techniques, the members of AROPL were coerced into signing false statements claiming that our religious leader, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, ordered them to engage in homosexual acts and sodomy. One member, Hamidreza Yousefi, recounted a horrifying experience, where prisoners described intense torture. He states, "Prisoners there told me about the intense torture in Evin prison, where they inserted beer bottles into their bodies. Shortly after, we heard the cries of one of our fellow members, a woman by the name of Saba, who was arrested with me. An interrogator remarked, 'I don't like her; otherwise, I would have raped her...'"
Upon Mohammadreza’s release on bail, he contacted the Spanish consulate, leading to Sanches’s eventual release. Grateful for Mohammadreza’s intervention, Sanches expressed his appreciation by sending a heartfelt video from Spain. “Look,” he exclaimed, showcasing the serene beauty of the Spanish woods as he walked through the park, enjoying his regained freedom.
Ever since their release, some of our members attempted to leave the country to ensure their safety, but they were intercepted and had their passports confiscated, Mohammad Hashem Bazarfshan.
Translation of the document:
General Administration of Passport Affairs,
Mr. MohammadHashem Bazrafshan son of Mohammad, with regards, please go to the Clergy Court in Tehran with the number 14/11/41632.
We have taken away your passport and after the court, you will receive it.
Passport Number: 52620817
SIGNED - Imam Khomeini’s International Airport
Currently, 22 of our members have fled to Turkey, seeking refuge, but encountered challenges as the government there did not offer a warm welcome. Many were among the 104 believers arbitrarily detained in Edirne. The remaining Iranian and Afghan believers of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light live in constant fear in Iran, hesitant to reveal their religion and identities.
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