Tehran (TDI): The head of a UN fact-finding mission on Monday declared that an Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison last June constituted a war crime, warning that ongoing US-Israeli bombings could further endanger detainees and fuel domestic repression in Iran.
According to Iranian authorities, over 70 people were killed when the prison, known for holding political prisoners, was struck. The facility has reportedly also suffered damage during the latest air raids, raising concern for inmates, including a British couple.
Sara Hossain, chair of the mission, told the UN Human Rights Council that the investigation found “reasonable grounds to believe that, in carrying out the airstrikes on Evin prison, Israel committed the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against a civilian object.” She noted that at least 80 people, including one child and eight women, were killed.
The report, presented Monday, draws on interviews with victims and witnesses, satellite imagery, and other documentation.
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Israel has disengaged from the UN Human Rights Council and left its seat vacant. There was no immediate response from Israeli officials, including the prime minister’s office, the Foreign Ministry, or the military.
Sara also cautioned that continued bombing campaigns could provoke further crackdowns by Iranian authorities, citing a rise in executions following last year’s airstrikes. “External military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” she said.
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UN-appointed rights expert Mai Sato highlighted additional concerns for detainees, including those arrested during January protests. Families have reportedly been unable to contact relatives, and food and medical supplies in prisons are increasingly scarce.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Ali Bahreini, called for international condemnation of the US-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in Iran to date.
