News Center — Human rights organizations criticized Faezeh Hashemi’s recent remarks about Evin Women’s Prison, arguing that they ignore documented reports of torture, mistreatment, and denial of medical care. They called for independent inspections of Iranian prisons.

A short video circulated via Iranian security-affiliated media showed the journalist and former Islamic Consultative Assembly member Faezeh Hashemi claiming that “Evin Women’s Prison is like a hotel with many facilities.” The clip was widely shared on official and unofficial platforms, as well as social media, sparking significant reactions, particularly among former political prisoners and families of inmates.

Reactions from Political Prisoners and Critics

Former political prisoners, human rights activists, and social media pages supporting detainees rejected the characterization of Evin as a “hotel.” They cited multiple reports documenting torture, denial of medical care, and ongoing security pressures inside the prison, viewing Hashemi’s statement as an attempt by authorities to distort reality.

Activists who experienced imprisonment firsthand stressed that the portrayal “does not reflect at all” their lived experiences, describing its circulation via pro-security media as propaganda aimed at denying human rights violations.

Critics have long highlighted attempts by authorities to present a polished image of prisons through selective visits or curated reports, practices previously described by political prisoners and human rights groups as “face-showing exercises.” Publishing such videos, especially by prominent figures from the ruling family, can simultaneously neutralize civil protests and legitimize the existing prison system.

Faezeh Hashemi and the Political Context

Faezeh Hashemi, former parliamentarian and daughter of the former Iranian president, has repeatedly written about prison conditions and openly disagreed with political detainees. Analysts note that her positions have occasionally drawn criticism from opposition prisoners and revealed tensions within opposition circles. Nonetheless, critics emphasize that official narratives should not obscure documented human rights violations.

Why Critics Call It “Propaganda”

Opposition observers cite three reasons for labeling the video as propaganda:

It was published by media closely linked to security agencies, raising questions about neutrality.

Numerous independent reports and documents from Evin and other detention centers—including testimonies from political prisoners and human rights organizations—document torture, lack of medical care, and prolonged confinement under harsh conditions.

A narrative presented by a ruling family member may signal locally and internationally an attempt to deflect allegations of prisoner abuse.

Media and Legal Implications

The video reinforced two conflicting narratives: supporters hailed it as proof of proper conditions, while opponents and victims’ families described it as a deliberate attempt to conceal human rights violations.

Independent lawyers argue that in light of extensive documentation of judicial pressure, denial of medical care, and retaliatory practices in prisons, selective statements from a prominent figure with her own incarceration history should not be taken as evidence of general prison conditions.

Meanwhile, three female political activists—Bakhshan Azizi, Vorisheh Moradi, and Zahra Shahbaz Tabari—face death sentences in Iranian prisons, with Azizi and Moradi currently held in Evin.

Many human rights activists and former political prisoners view the video not as an impartial report but as part of a narrative that downplays documented complaints and international evidence. They stress that the government’s appropriate response should be transparency, allowing independent prison access, ending politically motivated releases, and addressing verified human rights violations rather than producing curated video portrayals of reality.