Israel’s strike on Iran’s notorious Evin Prison killed 71 people, targeting a facility known for torturing political dissidents while expanding the scope of military objectives beyond traditional military and nuclear sites.
Key Takeaways
- Israel’s airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison killed 71 people, including staff, prisoners, and visitors, marking a significant escalation in targeting Iran’s regime infrastructure.
- Evin Prison is infamous for housing political prisoners and implementing brutal torture methods against dissidents and critics of Iran’s Islamist regime.
- The attack occurred just before a ceasefire took effect between Israel and Iran, with Israel specifically targeting what they called “regime targets and government repression bodies.”
- Human rights organizations have criticized the strike for potentially endangering innocent prisoners while also acknowledging the prison’s documented history of human rights abuses.
- The strike represents a potential shift in Israel’s strategy toward targeting symbols of regime repression rather than just military capabilities.
Notorious Prison Known for Torture and Human Rights Abuses
Evin Prison has long been a symbol of the Iranian regime’s brutal suppression of political opposition and dissent. The facility, located in Tehran, has been extensively documented as a site where torture, mock executions, and other severe human rights violations regularly occur. Former prisoners have provided harrowing accounts of their experiences within its walls, revealing systematic abuse designed to break the spirit of anyone who challenges the Islamist regime. Prior to the Israeli strike, the prison had already gained international notoriety after a hacktivist group called Edaalate Ali breached its security cameras in 2021, releasing footage that exposed the horrific conditions and abuse suffered by inmates.
Iran’s judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir confirmed the death toll from the strike, providing details about the victims. “Yesterday, Asghar Jahangir, a spokesperson for Iran’s judiciary, was quoted in the country’s Mizan news outlet as saying 71 people had been killed in the attack. He said the number included ‘administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison’s vicinity’,” said Asghar Jahangir, judiciary spokesperson.
Israel's attack on Tehran's Evin Prison killed 71
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At least 71 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison during Israel’s recent aggression against Iran, according to Iran’s Judiciary.Spokesman Asghar Jahangir described the 23 June attack as a… pic.twitter.com/iU8DjO5i1V
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) June 29, 2025
Strategic Shift in Israeli Military Targets
The strike on Evin Prison signals a potential strategic shift in Israel’s approach to the conflict with Iran. While previous operations focused primarily on military installations and nuclear facilities, the targeting of a prison facility represents an expansion of what Israel considers legitimate military objectives. Defense Minister Israel Katz explicitly confirmed the nature of the targets. “Last week, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the air force was striking ‘regime targets and agencies of government repression’ across Tehran, including Evin Prison,” stated Israel Katz, Defense Minister.
The attack occurred on June 23, just before a ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect. Prior to the ceasefire, Israel had conducted extensive operations against Iranian targets, claiming to have eliminated approximately 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists. The selection of Evin Prison as a target represents a symbolic strike against the mechanisms of internal repression used by the Iranian regime against its own citizens, particularly those who advocate for freedom and democratic reforms – values aligned with Western democracies and opposed to the current Islamist theocracy.
Human Rights Concerns and International Implications
While Evin Prison is unquestionably a facility used for political repression, the Israeli strike has generated debate regarding the targeting of such installations. Human rights organizations have expressed concern about endangering innocent prisoners while acknowledging the facility’s notorious history. The attack killed at least two inmates among the 71 casualties, along with staff, military service members, and visiting family members. Iran’s top prosecutor, Ali Ghanaatkar, was also confirmed killed in the attack, representing a significant blow to the regime’s judicial enforcement apparatus.
“Iranian-Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin was incarcerated at the facility for two years for taking part in Iran’s 2022 uprising. He has since detailed a ‘mock execution’ he was subjected to, in which he was taken to a set of gallows and read his last rights. ‘I was under that noose for about 15 minutes, I think,’ he told CNN earlier this year. ‘I could tell that they had brought in a cleric, and he was reciting the Quran over my head … and he kept telling me: ‘Repent, so that you go to heaven’,” recounted Saman Yasin, Iranian-Kurdish rapper.
The broader conflict has resulted in over 1,000 deaths, including at least 417 civilians according to human rights monitoring groups. Iran has retaliated against Israel with over 550 ballistic missiles, causing significant damage and killing 28 people. President Trump has consistently supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Iranian aggression while maintaining pressure on the Iranian regime through economic sanctions. The ceasefire between the two nations remains fragile, with Iranian military commander Abdolrahim Mousavi expressing doubts about Israel’s commitment to maintain it, and declaring readiness to respond forcefully if hostilities resume.
