Tehran, Iran (BN24) – Iran’s judiciary announced Sunday that at least 71 people were killed when Israeli forces struck Tehran’s Evin prison, the country’s most notorious detention facility used to hold political prisoners, activists, and dissidents.
Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said in a statement published by the state-run Mizan news agency that the dead included prison staff, soldiers, inmates, and visiting family members. The figures could not be independently confirmed.
The strike occurred on June 23, a day before Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire following nearly two weeks of hostilities. Several sections of the prison complex were reportedly hit, including the infirmary, engineering offices, the judicial affairs building, and a visitation hall where relatives were meeting prisoners.
It remains unclear why Evin was targeted. On the day of the attack, Israel’s Defense Ministry said it was carrying out operations against “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.”
The assault was quickly overshadowed by an Iranian missile strike later that same day on a U.S. base in Qatar, which caused no casualties, and by the announcement of the ceasefire.
The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran condemned the attack, saying it violated international law by failing to distinguish between civilian and military objectives. The organization also criticized Iranian authorities for not taking steps to protect the prison population.
“Iran has a legal obligation to safeguard those in its custody,” the group said. “Their failure to evacuate inmates, provide timely medical care, or inform families about the status of their loved ones amounts to a serious breach of duty.”
Jahangir said some injured were treated at the scene while others were transported to hospitals. Iran had not disclosed casualty figures until Sunday, though officials previously confirmed the death of Ali Ghanaatkar, Tehran’s top prosecutor.
Ghanaatkar, known internationally for prosecuting dissidents including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, was buried Sunday at a shrine in Qom following a large funeral procession held in Tehran.
The Evin prison strike was part of a broader Israeli military campaign launched June 13 that targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military command. Israeli officials claimed to have killed around 30 senior commanders and 11 nuclear scientists and to have struck eight nuclear-related sites along with more than 700 military facilities.
According to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group, the 12-day operation killed over 1,000 people in Iran, including at least 417 civilians.
In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles into Israel. While most were intercepted, several struck populated areas, killing 28 people.
