Latest news with #HedayatollahFarzadi
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Notorious Iranian prison boss flees minutes before Israeli airstrikes after secret warning
EXCLUSIVE – The notorious director of Tehran's brutal Evin Prison, Hedayatollah Farzadi, escaped the compound ahead of Israeli strikes following threats to his life – and an alleged exchange between Jerusalem and his adult son. Israeli authorities reportedly contacted Amir Husseini Farzadi, telling him that if he convinced his father to release political prisoners, his life would be spared in the impending attack. According to a series of WhatsApp messages shared with Fox News Digital by an Israeli intel source, an agent instructed Amir to tell his father to open the prison's doors, warning that an attack would occur within "a few minutes." Amir asked whether something had already happened to his father, and the Israeli agent replied that it wouldn't – if he passed the message along. Iran's Top Diplomat Contradicts Supreme Leader On 'Serious' Nuclear Site Damage The source told Fox News Digitial that after receiving the message, Amir contacted his uncle, who then drove to the prison to get his father, Farzadi. The two were seen speeding away from the area moments before the airstrikes began. Farzadi has not been heard from since, according to the source. Farzadi, who has been the director of Evin Prison since 2022, has been accused of committing egregious human rights violations, including the torture and murder of inmates, many of whom are political dissidents. Allegations against him include beatings, starvation, sexual violence against female prisoners and murder. He has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and the European Union. Read On The Fox News App The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Farzadi under the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, which prohibits U.S. entities and individuals from dealing with him. Iran Intensifies Internal Security Crackdown After Us, Israel Strikes "Numerous protesters have been sent to Evin Prison during the latest round of protests where they have been subjected to torture and other forms of physical abuse," the Treasury Department wrote in a statement. Prior to his time at Evin Prison, Farzadi spent 10 years working at Dizel Abad Prison, where he "was known to organize public amputations of criminals convicted of petty crimes," the Treasury Department wrote. The department also noted that during his time as director of the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, also known as Fashafouyeh Prison, Farzadi "oversaw the torture and maltreatment" of inmates. In its April 2025 announcement of sanctions against Ferzadi, as well as other entities and individuals, the EU condemned "the use of the judiciary as a tool for arbitrary detention" in Iran. The EU also noted that Iran saw a "dramatic increase in the number of executions" in 2024, which included women, minorities and European citizens. However, the EU did not specify how many of those executed were political dissidents. "Freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief, as well as freedom of assembly have been increasingly restricted, and threatening measures have been taken against human rights defenders, journalists and political dissidents," the EU article source: Notorious Iranian prison boss flees minutes before Israeli airstrikes after secret warning
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Notorious Iranian prison boss flees minutes before Israeli airstrikes after secret warning
EXCLUSIVE – The notorious director of Tehran's brutal Evin Prison, Hedayatollah Farzadi, escaped the compound ahead of Israeli strikes following threats to his life – and an alleged exchange between Jerusalem and his adult son. Israeli authorities reportedly contacted Amir Husseini Farzadi, telling him that if he convinced his father to release political prisoners, his life would be spared in the impending attack. According to a series of WhatsApp messages shared with Fox News Digital by an Israeli intel source, an agent instructed Amir to tell his father to open the prison's doors, warning that an attack would occur within "a few minutes." Amir asked whether something had already happened to his father, and the Israeli agent replied that it wouldn't – if he passed the message along. The source told Fox News Digitial that after receiving the message, Amir contacted his uncle, who then drove to the prison to get his father, Farzadi. The two were seen speeding away from the area moments before the airstrikes began. Farzadi has not been heard from since, according to the source. Farzadi, who has been the director of Evin Prison since 2022, has been accused of committing egregious human rights violations, including the torture and murder of inmates, many of whom are political dissidents. Allegations against him include beatings, starvation, sexual violence against female prisoners and murder. He has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and the European Union. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Farzadi under the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, which prohibits U.S. entities and individuals from dealing with him. "Numerous protesters have been sent to Evin Prison during the latest round of protests where they have been subjected to torture and other forms of physical abuse," the Treasury Department wrote in a statement. Prior to his time at Evin Prison, Farzadi spent 10 years working at Dizel Abad Prison, where he "was known to organize public amputations of criminals convicted of petty crimes," the Treasury Department wrote. The department also noted that during his time as director of the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, also known as Fashafouyeh Prison, Farzadi "oversaw the torture and maltreatment" of inmates. In its April 2025 announcement of sanctions against Ferzadi, as well as other entities and individuals, the EU condemned "the use of the judiciary as a tool for arbitrary detention" in Iran. The EU also noted that Iran saw a "dramatic increase in the number of executions" in 2024, which included women, minorities and European citizens. However, the EU did not specify how many of those executed were political dissidents. "Freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief, as well as freedom of assembly have been increasingly restricted, and threatening measures have been taken against human rights defenders, journalists and political dissidents," the EU wrote.
Euronews
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
EU sanctions Iranian prison and justice officials over 'unlawful' arrests of its citizens
ADVERTISEMENT The European Union has imposed sanctions on seven Iranian prison and justice officials over what the bloc says is a politically motivated campaign to detain EU citizens. Brussels has for years been concerned about the increasing number of its citizens detained by Iran on "spurious grounds," many of whom it says "continue to be held in degrading conditions with no chance of a fair trial." In response, EU foreign ministers imposed asset freezes and travel bans on three judges, two prosecutors and two prison officials, including Hedayatollah Farzadi, who is in charge of the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, which was previously targeted with sanctions. The bloc claims that Farzadi is "directly responsible for severe violations of political prisoners' human rights, in particular for restricting their communication and visitation rights and for arbitrarily ordering solitary confinement." An Iranian female prisoner makes a call in a corridor in the Evin Prison in Tehran, 13 June, 2006 AP Photo The EU also froze the assets of Shiraz Central Prison. "Several hostages from European countries have been unlawfully detained in this prison, where their access to a fair trial has been denied and where they have experienced severe violations of their most basic rights," the EU said. The first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz in Fars province was targeted too, with Brussels noting its role in "unjust trials and executions of political dissidents and persecution of individuals from minority communities." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the sanctions, describing Iran's actions as "a state policy" of hostage taking. "It's high time because the conditions in which some of our French and European compatriots are being detained are disgraceful and comparable to torture under international law," Barrot told reporters. He warned French citizens to avoid traveling to Iran. Last month, Frenchman Olivier Grondeau, who was imprisoned in Iran for over 880 days, was freed along with another French citizen who had been under house arrest in the capital for more than four months. Related French man returns home after nearly 900 days in Iranian prison Tehran charges detained British couple touring Iran with espionage Italian journalist Cecilia Sala freed from Iran with Elon Musk's help, reports claim An Iranian court had sentenced Grondeau, a backpacker, to five years in prison on espionage charges that he, his family and the French government vigorously denied. He was held at Evin Prison, which holds Westerners, dual nationals and political prisoners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. And in December last year, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks, just days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abenini was detained in Milan on a US arrest warrant. She was ultimately released and returned to Italy in January.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU targets Iranian prison and justice officials over arrests of its citizens
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on seven Iranian prison and justice officials over what the 27-nation bloc says is a politically motivated campaign by the Islamic Republic to detain EU citizens. The EU has for years been concerned about the increasing number of its citizens detained by Iran on "spurious grounds,' many of whom it says 'continue to be held in degrading conditions with no chance of a fair trial.' In response, EU foreign ministers imposed asset freezes and travel bans on three judges, two prosecutors and two prison officials, including Hedayatollah Farzadi, who is in charge of the notorious Evin Prison, which was previously targeted with sanctions. The bloc claims that Farzadi is 'directly responsible for severe violations of political prisoners' human rights, in particular for restricting their communication and visitation rights and for arbitrarily ordering solitary confinement.' The EU also froze the assets of Shiraz Central Prison. It said 'several hostages from European countries have been unlawfully detained in this prison, where their access to a fair trial has been denied and where they have experienced severe violations of their most basic rights.' The first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz in Fars province was targeted too, with the EU noting its role in 'unjust trials and executions of political dissidents and persecution of individuals from minority communities.' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the sanctions, describing Iran's actions as 'a state policy' of hostage taking. 'It's high time because the conditions in which some of our French and European compatriots are being detained are disgraceful and comparable to torture under international law,' Barrot told reporters. He warned French citizens to avoid traveling to Iran. Last month, Frenchman Olivier Grondeau, who was imprisoned in Iran for over 880 days, was freed along with another French citizen who had been under house arrest in the capital Tehran for more than four months. An Iranian court had sentenced Grondeau, a backpacker and world traveler, to five years in prison on espionage charges that he, his family and the French government vigorously denied. He was held at Evin Prison, which holds Westerners, dual nationals and political prisoners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
EU targets Iranian prison and justice officials over arrests of its citizens
The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on seven Iranian prison and justice officials over what the 27-nation bloc says is a politically motivated campaign by the Islamic Republic to detain EU citizens. The EU has for years been concerned about the increasing number of its citizens detained by Iran on "spurious grounds,' many of whom it says 'continue to be held in degrading conditions with no chance of a fair trial.' In response, EU foreign ministers imposed asset freezes and travel bans on three judges, two prosecutors and two prison officials, including Hedayatollah Farzadi, who is in charge of the notorious Evin Prison, which was previously targeted with sanctions. The bloc claims that Farzadi is 'directly responsible for severe violations of political prisoners' human rights, in particular for restricting their communication and visitation rights and for arbitrarily ordering solitary confinement.' The EU also froze the assets of Shiraz Central Prison. It said 'several hostages from European countries have been unlawfully detained in this prison, where their access to a fair trial has been denied and where they have experienced severe violations of their most basic rights.' The first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz in Fars province was targeted too, with the EU noting its role in 'unjust trials and executions of political dissidents and persecution of individuals from minority communities.' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the sanctions, describing Iran's actions as 'a state policy' of hostage taking. 'It's high time because the conditions in which some of our French and European compatriots are being detained are disgraceful and comparable to torture under international law,' Barrot told reporters. He warned French citizens to avoid traveling to Iran. Last month, Frenchman Olivier Grondeau, who was imprisoned in Iran for over 880 days, was freed along with another French citizen who had been under house arrest in the capital Tehran for more than four months. An Iranian court had sentenced Grondeau, a backpacker and world traveler, to five years in prison on espionage charges that he, his family and the French government vigorously denied. He was held at Evin Prison, which holds Westerners, dual nationals and political prisoners often used by Iran as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.
