Amnesty demands probe into Israeli raid on Tehran prison
Israeli Air Strike on Evin Prison: Deaths and Damage
Amnesty International has demanded a war crimes investigation into Israel’s deadly air attack on Tehran’s Evin prison during last month’s 12‑day war.
- Casualties: 79 people were killed, according to an initial Iranian tally.
- Structural Damage: The strike destroyed part of the prison’s administrative building, a heavily fortified complex that holds political prisoners and foreign nationals.
- Right‑Group Assessment: Amnesty described the attack as “deliberate” and a “serious violation of international humanitarian law.” It called for a criminal investigation as a war crime.
Amnesty’s claim was based on verified video footage, satellite images and witness statements that showed the Israeli military carried out multiple air strikes on at least six locations across the prison complex.
“There was nothing to suggest that Evin prison could justifiably be seen as a “legal military objective”,” Amnesty added.
Part of a Broader Campaign
The Evin strike was part of Israel’s June 13 bombardment campaign on Iranian targets, aimed at stopping the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities.
The June 23 attack affected:
- Administrative staff, guards and prisoners.
- Visiting relatives and nearby residents.
- Between 1,500 and 2,000 prisoners were held at the time, including French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, arrested three years ago on espionage charges.
France and other Western governments consider Kohler, Paris and others to be “hostages” held by Iranian authorities for leverage in negotiations.
