Sheiban prison in Ahwaz: overcrowding, disease and detention without trial deepen inmates’ suffering

Human rights reports have highlighted a sharp deterioration in the conditions of prisoners inside Sheiban Prison in Ahwaz, particularly among those detained in recent months, amid growing concerns over violations affecting their human and legal rights.

According to the reports, sections within the prison have been designated to hold participants in protests, where a large number of detainees remain in a state of legal uncertainty without resolution of their cases, heightening concerns about their fate.

The prison is suffering from severe overcrowding, with large numbers of detainees housed in cramped rooms that do not match their intended capacity.

Prisoners from different time periods are being held together in the same spaces, further exacerbating the already poor detention conditions.

The reports also revealed a significant deterioration in health conditions, amid water shortages and poor water quality, in addition to the limited number of sanitary facilities compared to the prison population, posing a direct threat to inmates’ health.

They further pointed to the spread of diseases among prisoners, at a time when medical services are notably inadequate, with doubts surrounding the quality of available medications. This is compounded by the infestation of insects inside the cells, which has led to additional health problems.

Many detainees face serious charges without their cases being brought before the judiciary, while transfers of some prisoners from other facilities and their interrogation continue, indicating ongoing pressure imposed on them inside the prison.