Within the oppressive walls of Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan, a harrowing tale of suffering and exploitation unfolds, largely hidden from the public eye.

Located near venues like Fadak Hall and the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center, this prison is not only plagued by dire sanitary conditions and inhumane living circumstances but has also become a site of systematic exploitation of female inmates.

According to a former detainee, women prisoners endure an unbearable and unsanitary environment, where 40 to 50 individuals are crammed into small spaces, some even deprived of a bed to sleep on. The lack of basic necessities, the spread of diseases such as lice among mothers and children, freezing cold showers, a shortage of cleaning supplies, and arbitrary restrictions are just a fraction of the hardships these women face daily.

But the story does not end there. Amidst their compounded suffering, incarcerated women are subjected to forced labor in a company called SNOVA. Under lucrative contracts with prison authorities, this company exploits the unpaid labor of inmates, reaping financial benefits that do not contribute to improving prison conditions but instead flow into the pockets of those in power.

Among the beneficiaries of this exploitation is Mohammad Reza Diani, a figure with a background in seminary studies and past ties to the Rouhani administration.

Support the show

Adelabad Prison, located in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, is notorious for its long-standing violations of human rights. This grim institution houses political, ideological, and general prisoners under conditions that reflect a systematic disregard for human dignity. Reports from former inmates reveal inhumane treatment, rampant torture, and appalling living conditions, especially in the women’s ward. These accounts provide a stark illustration of the clerical regime's widespread and systematic human rights abuses.

The Women’s Ward: A Microcosm of Injustice

The women’s ward in Adelabad Prison consists of eight rooms, one designated for political and financial prisoners, separated from the others. Currently, three female political prisoners—Hoda Mehreganfar, Maryam Deris, and Hakimeh Honarmand—are held in this ward under harsh and degrading conditions.

• Hoda Mehreganfar, arrested alongside her father Mohammad-Ali Mehreganfar, endured 40 to 50 days in solitary confinement.
• Hakimeh Honarmand, a political prisoner from the 1980s, has faced years of imprisonment and security pressures. She was arrested with her son.
• Maryam Deris, a master's student from the southwestern city of Kazerun, was detained during the nationwide protests of 2022.

The ward is overcrowded, forcing many prisoners to sleep "book-style" (side by side, with barely any room to move) on cold, unheated floors.

Poor sanitation exacerbates the dire conditions, with toilets and showers inside the rooms, emitting foul odors that permeate the air. The lack of heating during the winter months makes survival even more challenging.

Support the show

New official statistics reveal a deepening employment crisis in Iran, particularly for young women. The figures—published by the state-run Eghtesad News on May 15, 2025—show that unemployment among women aged 20 to 24 has reached a staggering 34.9%.

The data, compiled by the National Statistical Center (NSC), underscores a bleak labor market that disproportionately penalizes the country’s youth and women, exposing the long-standing failures of the clerical regime’s economic policies.

With youth unemployment drastically higher than the national average, the report serves as yet another warning sign of systemic dysfunction under the Iranian regime.

Unemployment Soars Among Iran’s Youth

According to the report, the national unemployment rate in winter 2025 (December 2024 to March 2025) stood at 7.8%. But this average figure masks the crisis faced by younger Iranians. For those aged 20 to 24, the overall unemployment rate was an alarming 23.1%—three times the national average.

The next group most affected was the 25–29 age range, with a jobless rate of 17%. The 15–19 age group followed, registering a 15.8% unemployment rate.

These numbers reflect a growing demand for jobs among young Iranians as well as the regime’s failure to create sufficient employment opportunities.

The joblessness crisis is exacerbated by systemic issues like nepotism, the prioritization of regime loyalists in hiring, and widespread corruption.

Women Bear the Brunt of the Economic Collapse

Unemployment among women was even more catastrophic. The overall jobless rate for women in winter 2025 was 14.2%—more than double that of men, whose unemployment rate stood at 6.5%. But the most shocking figure was the unemployment rate for women aged 20 to 24, which reached a staggering 34.9%. Girls aged 15 to 19 weren’t far behind, with 30.7% unemployed. The third-highest group was women aged 25 to 29, with a 29.1% unemployment rate. This means that one out of every three young women seeking employment is unemployed.

In a country where women make up a significant portion of university graduates, this high unemployment rate is not only a cause for concern but also a sign of a dysfunctional system—one that has not only severely limited job opportunities but also institutionalized gender discrimination.

Iranian women face numerous economic, cultural, and legal challenges, all under the shadow of a patriarchal and repressive regime.

Support the show