In late July 2025, Ghezel Hesar Prison, one of Iran’s largest detention facilities located in Karaj, became the scene of a violent and oppressive crackdown on political prisoners. This operation marked a significant escalation by the Iranian regime in its ongoing efforts to silence dissent, especially targeting organized resistance movements within the prison network. The following analysis examines the events, actors, motivations, and wider implications of this brutal assault, weaving in key statements and stakeholder perspectives that illuminate the complexities and human cost of this repression.
Background: Ghezel Hesar Prison and Political Imprisonment in Iran
Ghezel Hesar Prison holds a notorious reputation within Iran for housing a large number of political detainees, including human rights activists, dissidents, and participants in anti-regime movements. This prison has long been recognized as a place where harsh treatment, psychological torture, and denial of legal rights take a toll on prisoners. The crackdown in July 2025 came amid a broader wave of intensified repression by Iran’s leadership in response to widespread political unrest that had gripped the country over preceding months.
Against this backdrop, the regime under President Masoud Pezeshkian intensified its crackdown on opposition, marked by over 2,000 political arrests as admitted by judicial chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i. The regime’s turn towards mass executions and severe prison violence was aimed at crushing burgeoning resistance and deterring further mobilization.
The Violent Crackdown: Events and Key Figures
On July 26, 2025, Ghezel Hesar Prison witnessed an orchestrated raid led by senior prison officials loyal to the Islamic Republic’s security and intelligence apparatus. At the forefront of this operation was Allah-Karam Azizi, the prison chief, whose role was augmented by deputy warden Hassan Ghobadi and head of security Hossein Kamrei. This cadre commanded a force exceeding 100 armed members of a Special Prison Guard Unit alongside Ministry of Intelligence agents to storm Ward 4, known for housing politically active prisoners.
“South Sudanese soldiers entered Ugandan territory in the West Nile state and established a camp. When ordered to vacate, they refused, forcing us to use force.”
While this was from a different conflict ignored, for Ghezel Hesar, this raid similarly deployed overwhelming armed force to subdue prisoners. Specific individuals such as Rahim Feyzi, Ahmad Shirazi, Mohammad Sabzeh Makan, and prison officer Fallah were reported as part of the crackdown team.
The prisoners, many involved in the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign—a prison-based resistance movement aiming to end capital punishment—were mercilessly beaten, shackled, blindfolded, and dragged into solitary confinement. The regime’s use of solitary confinement, an internationally recognized form of psychological torture, was a deliberate tactic to weaken the prisoners’ resolve and isolate them from each other and the outside world.
Communication with prisoners’ families was entirely severed starting from July 25, further deepening the uncertainty and fear surrounding the detainees’ conditions. The immediate outcome of this raid was the execution of two political prisoners, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, both renowned anti-execution activists, in the early hours of July 27. Another prominent political prisoner, Saeed Masouri—a lifer sentenced on political grounds—was forcibly transferred to Zahedan Central Prison, a facility notorious for harsh conditions.
This coordinated attack was not an isolated incident but part of a broader strategy by the regime to dismantle and terrorize resistance networks within prisons that had become hubs of political activism despite harsh conditions.
Human Rights Violations and the Scale of Repression
Human rights organizations such as Hengaw Organization for Human Rights and Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) quickly condemned the operation, highlighting egregious violations including the violent use of force, denial of medical care, absence of legal counsel, and extensive use of solitary confinement. These actions blatantly contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party, as well as the United Nations’ Nelson Mandela Rules on the treatment of prisoners.
The crackdown exemplifies not only physical torture but the use of psychological brutality. The deliberate isolation, deprivation of communication, and harsh conditions aim to break the prisoners’ spirit and send a chilling message to others who might resist.
The reported statistics during this period underscore the regime’s ruthless measures. At least 20 executions were confirmed in various Iranian prisons during the week of the crackdown, demonstrating a drastic uptick in capital punishment. The judicial system, under Mohseni-Eje’i, remains complicit, openly boasting about detentions while ignoring international calls for justice and humane treatment.
Divergent Perspectives: Official Denials and Rights Groups Condemnation
Prison authorities, led by Allah-Karam Azizi, maintain a narrative dismissing claims of brutality, instead describing the raid as a “necessary security operation” aimed at maintaining order and preventing unrest. This official stance is consistent with Tehran’s habit of framing dissent and resistance as criminality, justifying repressive measures as law enforcement.
In stark contrast, human rights defenders and campaign activists publicly denounce the operation as part of a state strategy to instill fear and silence voices demanding justice. The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign’s members characterize the crackdown as evidence of the regime’s desperation to maintain power by terrorizing prisoners.
“The regime’s violence aims to instill fear and silence dissent but paradoxically exposed the regime’s vulnerability and desperation,”
they assert, highlighting that repression often intensifies when authoritarian governments feel insecure.
Domestic and international advocacy groups have called for immediate transparency regarding the conditions of prisoners, full accountability for those responsible, and international intervention to halt further abuses. These calls have so far been met with silence and further obfuscation by Iranian authorities.
The Prisoners’ Plight: Personal Stories and Broader Resistance
The executed activists, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, represented the core of political opposition within prisons—a voice against executions and systemic injustice. Their deaths sent shockwaves through resistance networks, yet such acts of oppression have instead galvanized further opposition among prisoners and human rights circles. Despite intensified surveillance and violence, campaigns like “No to Execution Tuesdays” have continued protests, hunger strikes, and public statements to keep the spotlight on the regime’s abuses.
The forcible transfer of prisoners like Saeed Masouri to harsh facilities like Zahedan further underscores the regime’s punitive approach toward individuals deemed politically dangerous. Such transfers sever ties with supportive contacts and escalate prison hardships, often amounting to cruel and unusual punishment.
Broader Regional and International Implications
Iran’s approach to political prisoners at Ghezel Hesar is emblematic of a wider human rights crisis across the country and the region. The escalation of executions, suppression of dissent, and prison violence reflect a regime increasingly isolated and acting with impunity. The crackdown also reveals the limitations of international mechanisms in curbing Tehran’s abuses amidst geopolitical complexities.
The use of prisons as sites not only of detention but of political warfare signals an entrenched authoritarian approach that prioritizes regime survival over basic human rights. This harsh environment severely restricts the possibility of reconciliation, reform, or peaceful transition within Iran’s fractious political landscape.
Looking Ahead: Urgent Needs and Recommendations
Preventing further brutality and protecting political prisoners’ rights demand urgent concerted action. Transparency regarding prisoner treatment is fundamental. Opening independent investigations into Ghezel Hesar’s raid and holding perpetrators accountable are critical steps for justice and potential deterrence.
International actors, including the United Nations and human rights bodies, must intensify pressure on Iran to comply with international law. Advocacy for prisoner rights should be amplified, with special attention to the dismantling of solitary confinement practices and restoration of prisoners’ contact with families and legal counsel.
At the national level, despite the regime’s entrenched authoritarianism, sustained internal and external resistance continues to be essential. Documenting abuses, supporting prisoner solidarity campaigns, and maintaining international awareness can undermine the regime’s oppressive capacity.
The July 2025 crackdown on political prisoners at Ghezel Hesar Prison is a stark reminder of the Iranian regime’s brutal tactics to suppress political dissent. Led by prison chief Allah-Karam Azizi and his deputies, the violent raid inflicted severe physical and psychological trauma on prisoners, silencing voices of resistance while exposing the regime’s vulnerability. Executions, solitary confinement, and enforced isolation stand as grim hallmarks of an intensified campaign against human rights defenders.
Statements from officials reveal denial and justification of repression, whereas activists and international groups highlight the profound injustice and call for accountability and transparency. The human toll — including executed activists and forcibly transferred prisoners — underscores the human cost of authoritarian control.
As the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign and others persist despite immense hardship, the world is reminded of the resilience of those demanding dignity and justice amid tyranny. Safeguarding Iranian political prisoners requires urgent attention and action from all stakeholders committed to upholding human rights and the rule of law.
