Tehran: Fresh allegations of severe mistreatment in Iranian prisons have emerged as authorities continue their crackdown on recent anti government protests, according to reports from families of detainees and independent media outlets.
Accounts shared through smuggled messages and interviews claim that some detainees have been stripped of their clothes and left outdoors in freezing weather. Others allege that prisoners were sprayed with cold water while being kept outside for long periods. There are also disturbing claims that some detainees were forcibly injected with unknown substances while in custody.
The reports say many of those affected were arrested during demonstrations that erupted across several Iranian cities in recent weeks, driven by public anger over economic hardship and government policies. Due to tight restrictions on media access and repeated internet shutdowns, independent verification of these allegations remains extremely difficult.
Human rights groups note that while the latest claims cannot yet be fully confirmed, they fit a long documented pattern of abuse in Iranian detention centres. Previous investigations by international organisations have detailed the use of physical and psychological pressure, forced confessions, denial of medical care and harsh prison conditions.
Families of detainees have appealed to the international community to press Iran for transparency and to allow independent monitoring of prisons. Some relatives say they have received little or no information about the condition or whereabouts of those arrested.
Iranian authorities have not publicly responded in detail to the latest allegations. In the past, officials have denied accusations of systematic abuse and have accused foreign media of spreading false information.
As protests continue and arrests mount, rights groups warn that the lack of access to detainees and the absence of independent oversight raise serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of those held in Iranian prisons.