Report on the IRGC’s Detention Centers in Tehran
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is synonymous with repression, imprisonment, and torture for many Iranians — particularly social and political activists. Perhaps the most well known of these is the 2-A Ward of Evin prison — the IRGC’s main detention center in Tehran — which has been recognized as one of the most infamous centers of repression among political activists for at least the last 20 years.
Beyond Evin, the IRGC has numerous detention centers throughout Tehran and other cities. The locations of some of these have been leaked to the media, but it is likely that other unknown detention centers exist throughout the country. The data collected by the Iran Prison Atlas (IPA) in recent years shows that there has been an increase in news about the IRGC’s detention centers, where political prisoners and prisoners of conscience are being held. This report describes some less famous, but still brutal, IRGC detention centers focused primarily around Tehran — Detention Center 59, 66, 2A, and 1A.
Detention Center 59
Detention Center 59 is located on the southwest side of the Vali Asr Military base (Eshrat Abad) and north of Sepah Square. This prison has been active since before the revolution, and was used to house political and religious activists. The most famous of these was Ruhollah Khomeini, who was arrested and held in Detention Center 59 following his opposition speech against the Shah in 1963. Ezzatollah Sahabi, a famous Iranian politician and journalist, was imprisoned there at the same time as Khomeini. Four decades later was re-imprisoned, held in solitary confinement, and tortured for more than 400 days.
It isn’t clear when Detention Center 59 began holding political prisoners after the revolution. The first notable detainees after Mohammad Khatami’s presidency were Ezzatollah Sahabi and Ali Afshari, who were arrested in December 2000. Other nationalist-religious activists and members of the Freedom Movement were also detained here and interrogated until March 2001. However, the center was not managed under the Prisons Organization’s guidance, and as such was closed down in early 2002 after many struggles between the Parliament and IRGC. Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoeini announced the closure of the detention center in a conversation with reporters on October 20, 2002.
Journalist Vahid Pour Ostad has written about several political prisoners held in Detention Center 59. Those who have spoken out unanimously emphasize problems such as small cell sizes, poor bathroom access, lack of proper ventilation, and violent interrogations. Ezzatollah Sahabi said the detention period and the torture he endured were more severe than before and after the Islamic Revolution. Other detainees have described torture such as being forced to stay awake for long periods of time, beatings, insults and humiliation, interrogations lasting up to 18 consecutive hours, imprisonment in extremely cold places, and simulated executions.
Detention Center 66
Detention Center 66 is located inside the Ghasre Firoozeh Garrison on the Takhti T junction. This center is primarily used to house IRGC personnel, but is sometimes used for political prisoners as well. The Sixth Parliament made great efforts to close the detention center or to keep it under the supervision of the Prisons Organization (like Detention Center 59). Eventually, an agreement was made between the IRGC and the Prisons Organization which enabled the IRGC to house personnel here under the supervision of the Prisons Organization. There have been no reports of political prisoners or prisoners of conscience being transferred to this detention center in recent years.
Detention Center 2-A
With the closure of Detention Center 59 in 2002, the IRGC immediately set up Ward 2-A in Evin Prison. The ward is entirely run by the IRGC, and is located near Ward 350 and the Special Clerical Ward in Evin prison. Ward 2-A has been familiar to many political activists since being set up. Many street protesters in 2003, 2009, 2017, and 2019 have been kept in this ward. Some former inmates in this ward have told IPA researchers that “there are cells in this detention facility that are similar to a coffin, and used for torture and to force confessions.” Political prisoners who have been held here report similar torture methods as those that were used in Detention Center 59.
The Layout of Detention Center 2-A
Detention Center 2-A consists of two separate buildings that are connected by a courtyard. The cells and interrogation rooms are separate. After the 2009 presidential election fallout, a women’s section was added. The interrogation rooms and other sections of the detention center have been developed further since 2009, adding features such as mirrored walls in the interrogation rooms. The detention center also has at least three public rooms that are used to detain certain prisoners long-term.
Detention Center 2-A has two types of cells. The first type are 2x1 ½ meters and have no toilet. The second type are 2x3 meters and include a private toilet.
Detention Center 1-A
Detention Center 1-A belongs to the Sarallah campsite. There is no information about the exact location of this detention center, but IPA researchers have concluded it is located in the east or northeast of Tehran. According to some witnesses, the detention center may be surrounded by natural obstacles which obscure its location. Male and female detainees are kept in separate sections.
One witness described the staff’s behavior as “violent” in an interview with the IPA, and information gathered by our team says that many prisoners have been beaten at this detention center. Since this ward has been used to detain unidentified prisoners, additional information such as the specific torture techniques performed in this detention center have not been released.
Description of Detention Center 1-A
Reports indicate that the yard surrounding Detention Center 1-A has an outlined footpath, which enables blindfolded prisoners to navigate the center with the guidance of guards. Lines are painted in different colors and lead to separate buildings, where detainees are processed and have their information and photographs taken.
The building itself is newly established and was probably erected in 2016 or 2017. It is a multi-floor detention center. The solitary confinement cells are in the basement, the first floor (above the ground floor) has two large suites where prisoners are held publicly. The women’s detention center is located on the upper floor. Solitary confinement cells have a toilet next to the inmate’s sleeping area. Only a 120 cm wall separates the toilet from the cell area. There are three toilets and a bathroom next to the guard-room, and guards must open the door for a prisoner to use the toilet. Further, it appears that many inmates do not have access to a prison yard area for fresh air and exercise.
It should be noted that these suites are also equipped with CCTV, but security forces claim that these cameras do not have a microphone, and they are being used solely for the prisoner’s security.
The information collected by IPA shows that detainees without any prior arrest history are mainly transferred to this detention center. Several of Tehran’s street protesters arrested by IRGC agents have been transferred here. Prisoners who have spoken with IPA researchers say that all inmates are blindfolded as they are processed, and IRGC guards watch over them. This detention center also reportedly uses handcuffs that are not used by other security agencies. The cuffs are made of rope, but are made to look like they are made of metal.
