Prisons of Resistance: The Role of Evin and Qarchak in Silencing Women

In the battle for freedom and human rights in Iran, women have emerged as leading voices of resistance. However, their activism comes at a high cost. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s most powerful security institution, uses prison systems as tools of repression, targeting women who challenge the regime. Among the most notorious prisons are Evin Prison in Tehran and Qarchak Prison in Varamin.

These prisons have become symbols of state oppression, where women journalists, activists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens are detained, tortured, and silenced. Yet, despite the brutality within these walls, the resistance continues. The stories of these women, their endurance, and their defiance inspire a broader movement for freedom in Iran.

This article explores:

 • The role of Evin and Qarchak prisons in suppressing women’s voices.

 • The experiences of women who have been imprisoned.

 • The tactics of fear and control used by the IRGC.

 • How global solidarity can support these women and the fight for freedom.

1. Evin Prison: The Epicenter of Repression

A. History and Significance of Evin Prison

Evin Prison, established in 1972, has been central to the regime’s suppression of political dissidents. Often referred to as the “house of Iran’s political prisoners”, Evin holds:

 • Journalists, lawyers, and activists.

 • Women’s rights advocates and human rights defenders.

 • Individuals charged with “acting against national security”—a vague accusation often used to silence critics.

Under the control of the IRGC, Evin Prison has become synonymous with torture, forced confessions, and injustice.

B. The Experience of Women in Evin Prison

Women detainees in Evin face:

 • Solitary confinement in small, windowless cells, sometimes for months.

 • Psychological torture, including constant interrogations and threats against family members.

 • Physical abuse, ranging from beatings to denial of medical care.

 • Sexual violence and harassment, used as weapons of humiliation.

Despite these horrors, many women continue their activism from behind bars, refusing to be broken by the regime’s tactics of fear.

C. Notable Women Imprisoned in Evin

1. Narges Mohammadi

 • Narges Mohammadi, a human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has spent years in Evin Prison for her activism.

 • She has been arrested multiple times for campaigning against the death penalty and exposing human rights abuses.

 • Despite being tortured and suffering from serious health issues, Mohammadi continues to write and advocate for freedom, becoming a symbol of resistance.

2. Nasrin Sotoudeh

 • Nasrin Sotoudeh, a renowned human rights lawyer, has been sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for defending women who protested compulsory hijab laws.

 • Sotoudeh’s story highlights the regime’s fear of women who defend justice and freedom. Even from prison, her voice resonates globally, inspiring countless others.

2. Qarchak Prison: A Living Nightmare for Women

A. Qarchak Prison’s Reputation

Located in Varamin, Qarchak Prison is widely known as one of the worst prisons for women in Iran. Unlike Evin, which holds many political prisoners, Qarchak was originally designed for hardened criminals. However, it is now frequently used to detain women activists, mixing them with violent offenders—a deliberate tactic to endanger and intimidate political detainees.

B. Conditions in Qarchak Prison

Prisoners in Qarchak endure:

 • Severe overcrowding, with poor sanitation and contaminated water.

 • Lack of medical facilities, leading to deaths from treatable diseases.

 • Torture and beatings by prison guards.

 • Systematic harassment, including sexual violence.

The inhumane conditions at Qarchak are a clear violation of international human rights laws, yet the IRGC continues to use it as a tool of repression.

C. Stories of Women in Qarchak

1. Sepideh Gholian

• Sepideh Gholian, a journalist and labor rights activist, has been imprisoned in Qarchak for covering workers’ protests.

 • She was subjected to torture and forced confessions. After her release, Sepideh bravely returned to Evin Prison, chanting anti-regime slogans, a bold act that led to her re-arrest.

 • Gholian’s story exemplifies the unbreakable spirit of Iranian women who continue to resist, even after enduring state violence.

2. Atena Daemi

 • Atena Daemi, a children’s rights activist, has been detained multiple times for her peaceful activism.

 • Daemi has conducted hunger strikes in protest of inhumane prison conditions and the death penalty in Iran.

 • Her resilience demonstrates the power of non-violent resistance in the face of extreme oppression.

3. The IRGC’s Tactics of Fear and Control

A. Torture and Psychological Abuse

The IRGC employs torture and psychological abuse to force compliance:

 • Sleep deprivation, mock executions, and electric shocks during interrogations.

 • Threats against family members, including children, to break the will of prisoners.

 • Forced confessions, later aired on state television, to discredit activists.

B. Digital Surveillance and Repression

The IRGC also uses cyber warfare to suppress dissent:

 • Monitoring online activities and hacking accounts of journalists and activists.

 • Spreading disinformation to tarnish the reputations of women who speak out.

 • Internet blackouts during protests to prevent the sharing of information.

C. Gender-Specific Repression

The regime specifically targets women by:

 • Enforcing compulsory hijab laws as a form of bodily control.

 • Using sexual violence as a tool of humiliation.

 • Preventing women’s access to education and employment opportunities.

Despite these oppressive measures, Iranian women remain at the forefront of the fight for freedom.

4. Global Solidarity: How the World Can Help

A. Amplifying Women’s Voices

International media must continue to:

 • Highlight the stories of women imprisoned in Iran.

 • Provide platforms for activists in exile to speak.

 • Counter the regime’s propaganda by reporting verified stories of abuse.

B. Sanctions on Human Rights Violators

Governments worldwide should:

 • Sanction IRGC leaders responsible for the imprisonment and torture of women.

 • Freeze assets and limit travel of officials linked to human rights abuses.

 • Work with international human rights organizations to document violations for future prosecution.

C. Digital and Legal Support

 • Provide secure communication tools for activists to bypass IRGC surveillance.

 • Support legal aid organizations that defend political prisoners.

 • Establish humanitarian pathways for women activists seeking asylum.

D. Global Advocacy and Protest

 • Encourage global protests in solidarity with Iranian women.

 • Lobby for the IRGC’s designation as a terrorist organization by more countries.

 • Continue international campaigns using hashtags like  FreeIranianWomen and  WomenLifeFreedom.

5. Resistance From Behind Bars

Even behind bars, Iranian women resist:

 • Narges Mohammadi continues to write about human rights abuses, even from solitary confinement.

 • Nasrin Sotoudeh refuses to comply with regime demands, making powerful statements from her prison cell.

 • Sepideh Gholian’s return to prison, chanting slogans, demonstrates the unyielding courage of these women.

These acts of defiance prove that the spirit of resistance cannot be imprisoned.

 Conclusion: Unbreakable Spirit, Unstoppable Movement

The IRGC’s prisons, especially Evin and Qarchak, are meant to silence voices—but instead, they have become symbols of resistance. The courageous women who endure these brutal conditions are leading the fight for an Iran free of oppression.