Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a scathing report condemning the Israeli airstrikes on Evin Prison in Tehran on June 23, 2025, labeling the attack as unlawfully indiscriminate and a clear violation of international law, amounting to apparent war crimes.

The strikes, which occurred between 11:17 a.m. and 12:18 p.m., targeted multiple buildings across the sprawling 43-hectare prison complex during visiting hours, killing at least 80 people, including prisoners, family members, and staff. HRW emphasized that no evident military target was present, and the timing of the attack exacerbated its impact on civilians.

Evin Prison is notorious for housing political dissidents and activists, many of whom are held in violation of their rights. The airstrikes severely damaged key facilities such as the visitation hall, central kitchen, medical clinic, and wards housing political prisoners. Eyewitnesses and satellite imagery confirmed widespread destruction across buildings located hundreds of meters apart, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the assault.

HRW interviewed 22 individuals, including relatives of victims and former prisoners, and analyzed video footage, photographs, and satellite imagery to verify the extent of the damage. Among the accounts, political prisoners Abolfazl Ghadiani and Mehdi Mahmoudian described hearing repeated explosions and witnessing the medical clinic engulfed in flames. Prisoners reportedly retrieved 15 to 20 bodies from the rubble within hours of the attack.

One of the most harrowing testimonies came from Dr. Saeedeh Makarem, a volunteer at the prison’s clinic, who was rescued from the debris and later underwent major surgery, including hand replantation. Iranian state media confirmed the death of a physician in the clinic during the strike.

HRW reached out to both Israeli and Iranian authorities on July 2 and July 7, respectively, seeking clarification and accountability. As of mid-August, neither government has provided substantive responses. The organization has called for a full investigation and for those responsible to be held to account under international law.

The attack on Evin Prison occurred amid a broader 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13 and concluded with a ceasefire on June 24. The hostilities included Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities, and even U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by Iranian retaliation against U.S. bases in Qatar.

While Israel’s military claimed that intelligence activity was being conducted within the prison compound, HRW found no evidence to support the presence of a legitimate military target. The organization stated that the attack placed already vulnerable prisoners at grave risk, many of whom were victims of Iranian state repression.

The incident has drawn international concern, with Amnesty International also calling for a war crimes probe. The lack of warning before the strike and the targeting of civilian infrastructure during peak visitation hours have intensified calls for accountability.

As tensions between Israel and Iran remain high, the Evin Prison strike stands out as one of the most controversial episodes of the June 2025 conflict. Human rights advocates warn that without transparent investigations and justice for victims, such violations risk becoming normalized in future confrontations.

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