TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – According to local media reports, Iranian authorities have announced that 27 inmates remain at large following an Israeli airstrike on Evin prison in Tehran last month. The incident is part of a broader conflict, with Israel conducting a 12-day bombardment of Iran that has resulted in a death toll of approximately 1,100 individuals, while 28 people in Israel have died as a result of Iranian retaliatory strikes.
Asghar Jahangir, the spokesman for the Iranian Judiciary, revealed that initially 75 prisoners escaped during the airstrike. However, 48 of these individuals have either been recaptured or have returned voluntarily. Jahangir stated that authorities intend to detain those who do not come forward on their own. He clarified that most of the escapees were serving sentences for minor offenses.
The Israeli airstrike on Evin prison, which is notorious for housing political prisoners and dissidents, has been met with criticism. Iranian officials claim that the strike killed 71 individuals, although local media reports from July indicated that the number could be as high as 80, encompassing prison staff, soldiers, inmates, and visiting family members. Iranian authorities have also reported that five inmates lost their lives in the attack.
There is still uncertainty surrounding the motivations behind Israel's targeting of Evin prison. The Israeli Defense Ministry stated that the airstrike was executed by 50 aircraft dropping around 100 munitions on military targets, a move justified by what they describe as “high-quality and accurate intelligence” from their Intelligence Branch.
Human rights organizations have condemned the strike on Evin prison, emphasizing that it undermines the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets. The New York-based Center for Human Rights stressed that targeting a facility associated with the repression of political opposition raises serious ethical concerns.
As the situation continues to develop, the repercussions of the airstrikes on Iran's prison system, as well as the broader implications for Iranian-Israeli relations, remain to be seen.
