Israeli airstrike on Iran's Evin prison to be probed as war crime
Amnesty International has demanded a criminal investigation into Israel's June 23 airstrikes on Tehran's Evin prison, citing violations of international humanitarian law.
According to Amnesty, verified satellite images, video evidence, and witness testimony confirm that multiple strikes hit at least six locations within the prison complex during working hours, when many areas were filled with civilians. Iranian officials reported 80 people killed, including 79 adults and a five-year-old child.
Israel later acknowledged targeting the site, with senior officials making public statements celebrating the strike. Amnesty emphasized that, under international law, detention centers are presumed to be civilian facilities, and no credible evidence has emerged showing Evin prison served a military purpose.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
7 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
Three dead in natural park blaze in Iran's Kurdistan province: Watchdog
Also in Iran Iran executes over 100 Kurds in 2025 amid post-war crackdown: Watchdog Tensions rise in Iranian parliament ahead of IAEA visit At least five killed in attack on Iran courthouse Iranian diplomat says had 'frank' talks with European powers A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three environmental activists lost their lives and several others were injured while attempting to extinguish a wildfire that broke out in a popular natural park in western Iran's (Rojhelat) Kurdistan province, a human rights watchdog said on Monday. A blaze at Kurdistan's Abidar Natural Park, among the most well-known areas in the province, broke out on Thursday and quickly spread to residential complexes nearby. The fire was eventually brought under control by local residents and environmental activists, who criticized the government for insufficient support. The Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization said that environmental activists Khabat Amini, Chaiko Yousefinejad, and Hamid Moradi died due to 'severe burns' sustained from the fire. Five other environmental activists were injured, according to Hengaw. Footage dated Monday showed a large crowd gathering before a local hospital in Kurdistan's provincial capital of Sanandaj to honor their dedication, Hengaw added, and their funerals drew a large crowd. A two-day mourning period was declared in Sanandaj by Governor Arash Lihony after their deaths. The Abidar Natural Park in Kurdistan province is renowned for its scenic beauty and its open-air cinema, considered one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East, making it a popular tourist destination and outdoor recreation area for residents. Forest fires in Rojhelat, particularly in the vicinity of Kurdistan province, have become increasingly regular over the past few years, sparking concerns from environmentalists amid claims of arson. Many hold the Iranian government responsible for the blazes. Iranian security forces also routinely arrest environmentalists seeking to control the flames.
Shafaq News
7 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Russia, Ukraine trade overnight airstrikes
Shafaq News – Kyiv/Moscow Russia and Ukraine launched large-scale aerial attacks overnight, with Kyiv reporting the interception of more than 300 threats and Moscow announcing it had downed seven Ukrainian drones across multiple regions. According to Ukraine's General Staff on Monday, Russian forces fired over 330 aerial weapons—including Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles—mostly aimed at Khmelnytskyi, with Ukrainian defenses intercepting 309 drones and two Kh-101 missiles, while three Kinzhal ballistic missiles missed their targets. The barrage reportedly began at 7:30 p.m. on July 27 and stretched into the early hours of July 28, originating from Russian regions such as Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Lipetsk, and Saratov, with Starokostiantyniv and its key airbase appearing to be the main target. Ukraine responded with fighter jets, surface-to-air systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile teams to repel the assault. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry reported that it shot down seven Ukrainian fixed-wing drones—four over Rostov, and one each in Oryol, Kaluga, and Bryansk. The strikes came shortly after a third round of direct talks in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners each, including both civilians and military personnel.
Shafaq News
24 minutes ago
- Shafaq News
Three years on, Is PM Al-Sudani responsible for Iraq's failing services?
Shafaq News – Baghdad When Mohammed Shia al-Sudani assumed the premiership in 2022, he declared a clear priority: building a 'services government.' From electricity and water to healthcare and education, his cabinet pledged to reverse Iraq's chronic infrastructure failures. But nearly three years into his term, many Iraqis see little improvement, raising a pressing question: how much of the country's persistent service failure falls on al-Sudani himself? From Promise to Disappointment Al-Sudani's government identified key priorities: fighting corruption, improving public services, stimulating the economy, enhancing national security, and resolving federal disputes with the Kurdistan Region. On paper, the focus was comprehensive and ambitious. In practice, however, delivery has lagged far behind public expectations. The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasized anti-corruption efforts, infrastructure development, and economic diversification. Still, Iraqis continue to suffer from recurring power outages, water scarcity, and poor health and education services. The symbolic slogan of a 'government of services' now risks eroding public trust as the realities on the ground diverge sharply from official rhetoric. Mounting Frustrations and Heatwaves The current summer has seen electricity failures spike dramatically amid soaring temperatures above 50°C, forcing many provinces to suspend work and schools. Political analyst Abbas al-Jubouri told Shafaq News that 'there is clear negligence across all services, particularly electricity,' noting that drought-induced water shortages, stalled projects, and the delayed disbursement of the federal budget have all worsened the service crisis. 'The government made promises, but the situation in Baghdad and other provinces is visibly deteriorating,' al-Jubouri added, arguing that basic infrastructure projects like roads and bridges—now hailed as achievements—should have been the norm, not exceptions. Political Structure or Executive Failure? Critics are divided on where ultimate responsibility lies. Political analyst Mujashaa al-Tamimi argued that while al-Sudani's administration carries part of the blame, Iraq's systemic flaws run deeper. 'Service deterioration did not start with this government,' al-Tamimi said, noting that since 2003, successive cabinets have promised reforms that largely remained 'ink on paper.' He pointed to Iraq's entrenched ethno-sectarian power-sharing system, or Muhasasa, as a major obstacle: it prevents the appointment of qualified officials, empowers party loyalties over state performance, and shields corruption. Al-Tamimi also emphasized the absence of effective oversight mechanisms and political stability, which he believes have rendered the legislative branch incapable of imposing executive accountability. Despite what he described as 'some visible achievements' by al-Sudani's government in limited sectors, political interference and appointments based on loyalty have curtailed the Prime Minister's ability to lead sweeping reforms. Civil Society Response and a Warning from October Civil society voices echo a growing sense of frustration. Activist Noor Salem told Shafaq News that the political class, especially ruling parties, bear primary responsibility for the deterioration of services. He argued that the lessons of the 2019 October protests—which triggered government resignations and political reckoning—were not absorbed by the ruling elite. 'The system has regressed,' he said. 'What we're seeing now—sectarian quotas, project mismanagement, and administrative chaos—is worse than what triggered the October Uprising,' Salem warned of rising public anger and hinted at renewed protest movements if the situation remains unchanged. His warning is underpinned by a financial reality: despite massive spending over recent years, infrastructure and service outputs remain modest. Delays in passing the 2025 budget tables are adding fuel to popular dissatisfaction. Budget Paralysis and Institutional Decay Parliamentary voices, such as that of Mahdiya al-Lami from the Services and Reconstruction Committee, offer a mixed diagnosis. Al-Lami acknowledged that protests are constitutionally protected and a legitimate response to poor services. She attributed the crisis partly to chronic underfunding and, at times, the complete absence of financial allocations. 'Despite passing the tripartite budget law, budget schedules haven't yet reached Parliament,' she explained, describing widespread institutional paralysis across ministries and departments. She also blamed delayed projects, rampant corruption, and the lack of administrative and technical capacity. More significantly, al-Lami pointed to a broader decay in national responsibility and vision. 'There is no genuine political will to reform or deliver,' she said bluntly. Accountability in a Captive System While al-Sudani's term has not been devoid of progress, especially in launching select infrastructure and employment initiatives, the failure to deliver comprehensive service improvements is increasingly viewed as a leadership shortfall. However, as analysts and lawmakers agree, he operates within a dysfunctional structure that limits reform. With time running out and popular discontent deepening, al-Sudani faces a critical test: either break the political mold or become yet another prime minister who promised services and delivered frustration. Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.
