Statement of the Workers’ Syndicate of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company
AWNI, July 1, 2025: The Workers’ Syndicate of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company Condemns the bombing of Evin Prison and Demands the Implementation of the Law on the Release of Prisoners in Wartime. The Workers’ Syndicate of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, with the utmost regret and anger, strongly condemns the Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison, which resulted in the injury of a significant number of prisoners and the killing and wounding of several staff, including medical staff and conscripts. This attack is a clear violation of humanitarian principles, human rights, and the legal obligations of sovereign institutions to protect the lives and security of prisoners.
According to the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) and the First Additional Protocol (1977), attacks on civilian areas – including prisons where defenceless persons are held – are expressly prohibited, and governments are obliged to protect the lives of prisoners in times of war.
Evin Prison is a familiar, painful, and deeply unpleasant name for the members of this Syndicate and for many labour activists who have been repeatedly arrested, interrogated, and imprisoned there. This prison is the unjust imprisonment of a large number of labour prisoners, teachers, students, women, children's rights defenders, journalists, artists and political, ideological and civil activists, and under no circumstances should it be made a target of military attack in a war between states.
In the current situation where the country has entered a state of war, the judiciary is obliged, in accordance with Resolution No. 211 of the Supreme Judicial Council (dated 12 January 1987) and the Executive Regulations of the Prisons Organization, to take action to release or grant emergency leave to prisoners who are not convicted of dangerous crimes - which also includes all the aforementioned prisoners.
Accordingly, The Workers’ Syndicate of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, citing legal, moral, and international obligations, demands the immediate and unconditional fulfilment of the following demands:
The release of all political, civil, Syndicates, trade unions, prisoners of conscious, and ordinary prisoners, and the abolition of the cruel death sentences against political and civil activists.
• Granting emergency leave to other prisoners with no history of violent crimes against citizens.
• Safe and immediate transfer of prisoners at risk to protected, suitable and adequately equipped places, in accordance with the legal and international rights of prisoners.
The Workers’ Syndicate of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, while expressing deep concern about the situation of the prisoners and declaring solidarity with their families, demands immediate action by the responsible organizations to prevent the repetition of such crimes and ensure the protection of the lives of the prisoners in the current critical situation.
AWNI No. 212 (special issue for war) 1st Juli 2025
Document Actions