violations. Between 2015 and 2018, a number of 28,504 inspections were carried out to
prosecutors' offices, prisons and detention centers.”4 There is no readily available information
about the outcome of the complaints or inspections.
B. The Islamic Republic of Iran should ensure that conditions of detention conform to
articles 7 and 10 of the Covenant, and to the United Nations Standard Minimum
Rules for Treatment of Prisoners
Article 39 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates that “All affronts to the
dignity and repute of persons arrested, detained, imprisoned, or banished in accordance with the
law, whatever form they may take, are forbidden and liable to punishment.”5
Iran’s Prison Regulations provide for the management and supervision of all prisons and
detention center in the country, including the conditions of detentions such as access to adequate
food and water and medical care for detainees, visits and communications with the family. Prison
regulations include the right for detainees to have a bed6 and also stipulate that prisons should
have enough showers to enable detainees to shower at least once a week.7
The Iranian Prisons Organisation, the governmental agency in charge of overseeing prisons in
the country, has reportedly faced challenges in terms of funding and investments. Despite the
government increasing the annual budget of the organisation8, in 2017, the then-Head of the
Iranian Prisons Organisation stated in an interview that there were not enough funds to provide
three adequate meals to prisoners.9 Reportedly, the budget of the Organisation is spent mostly on
the provision of food and clothing for prisoners, as well as health care services.10
However, despite the lack of readily available official information, NGO reports suggest that
investments to improve the conditions of detention of persons deprived of their liberty are
insufficient. Reportedly, prisons in Iran lack showers and adequate sleep amenities for their
detainees.11 As reported by Amnesty International in June 2020,12 and according to
recent official statements,13 Iran’s prison population was around 211,000. This is two and half
4
National Report, UPR 2019, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English Translation, Iran Data Portal, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf
6
Article 71, Regulatory Code of 11 Dec. 2005 (Governing the Prisons Organization and Security and Corrective Measures),
available at http://www.prisons.ir/index.php?Module=SMMPageMaster&SMMOp=View&PageId=27.
7
Article 108, Regulatory Code of 11 Dec. 2005 (Governing the Prisons Organization and Security and Corrective Measures),
available at http://www.prisons.ir/index.php?Module=SMMPageMaster&SMMOp=View&PageId=27
8
ILNA News, https://www.ilna.news/fa/tiny/news-707499
9
Aftab News, https://aftabnews.ir/fa/news/499098/
10
Mehr News, www.mehrnews.com/xQMTN
11
See more: Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, https://iranhrdc.org/rights-disregarded-prisons-in-the-islamic-republic-ofiran/#3.2.3
12
Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/07/iran-leaked-letters-reveal-state-denial-of-covid19crisis-in-prisons/
13
IRNA, https://www.irna.ir/news/83819418/٢١١-ھﺰار-ﻧﻔﺮ-در-زﻧﺪان-ھﺎی-ﮐﺸﻮر-ھﺴﺘﻨﺪ
5
2