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.

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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.

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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.

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Rural women migrants in Chabahar are trapped between environmental collapse and a regime that refuses to see them. Their suffering is systemic.

Chabahar’s women aren’t asking for much—just survival with dignity.
After fleeing drought and devastation, they were promised jobs and housing.
Instead, they got slums, silence, and shame.

In Chabahar’s slums, 70,000 migrants live in sewage-lined streets.
Kids play among open wires and disease.
Women face hunger, illiteracy, and addiction.
This is not a natural disaster. It’s a political one.

Setareh’s story is one of thousands in Chabahar.
Women heads of household, abandoned by the state, are surviving—but barely.
This is not migration. It’s displacement with no way back.

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In just 15 days, Iran witnessed at least 9 cases of femicide in Iran—women brutally murdered as victims of domestic abuse, so-called honor killings, and the chronic failures of protective institutions. Each of these killings is a human tragedy, yet they are often lost in official statistics and gradually normalized in the public conscience.

The relentless recurrence of such crimes is not the result of “momentary rage” or “personal disputes,” as often portrayed, but rather the direct consequence of structural inequality, a culture that tolerates violence, and the silence of responsible institutions.

These horrific cases of femicide highlight the escalating crisis of gender-based violence in Iran, where systemic legal shortcomings enable perpetrators to act with impunity.

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For most students around the world, the start of a new school year brings a sense of renewal and excitement for learning. However, many Iranian children are grappling with challenges that threaten their future.
Economists report that, for the first time in 75 years, Iran’s impoverished population has doubled in just three years — an alarming development unprecedented in the nation’s planning history. (Jamaran website – September 16, 2024)

Other sources have stated that 60% of Iran’s population lives below the poverty line. (Bahar News – September 13, 2024)

And these are merely the figures that have been allowed to leak into government-controlled media. This means they should be considered the minimum, as the reality surpasses the numbers officially announced.

The hardship inflicted on Iranian children by poverty and inflation is one of the most devastating outcomes of the economic and social crises caused by the mullahs’ religious dictatorship in Iran. This has particularly impacted education, resulting in a growing illiteracy rate that experts warn poses a grave threat to Iran’s future.

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In questo podcast, mettiamo in luce il modello costante e allarmante di lavoro forzato e abusi sistemici nei confronti delle donne detenute in diverse strutture carcerarie in Iran, tra cui il carcere di Vakilabad (Mashhad), il carcere di Sepidar (Ahvaz), il carcere di Qarchak e il carcere di Tabriz. Queste pratiche violano direttamente gli standard internazionali dei diritti umani e rivelano un deliberato disprezzo per la dignità e il benessere delle donne incarcerate.

Natura Sistemica del Lavoro Forzato
Il lavoro forzato non è un evento isolato, ma una pratica abituale e istituzionalizzata all'interno del sistema carcerario iraniano riservato alle donne. Le detenute sono costrette a lavorare in vari settori, tra cui fabbriche, laboratori (tessitura di tappeti, sartoria, produzione di scarpe), pulizie, panetteria, cucina e confezionamento.

Ore di Lavoro Prolungate e Non Retribuite
Le donne detenute sono obbligate a lavorare per molte ore, spesso oltre l’orario lavorativo standard, senza adeguati periodi di riposo o una giusta retribuzione. Una testimonianza riferisce che le donne lavorano “senza sosta fino alle 16:30, anche se dovremmo rientrare entro le 15:00”. Un’altra fonte evidenzia che alcune lavorano fino alle 22:00. Nonostante l’intensa fatica, i salari percepiti sono definiti “miseri”, variando da appena 30.000 a 200.000 toman al mese.

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Dans ce podcast, nous mettons en lumière le schéma constant et alarmant du travail forcé et des abus systémiques visant les femmes détenues dans plusieurs établissements pénitentiaires en Iran, notamment les prisons de Vakilabad (Mashhad), Sepidar (Ahvaz), Qarchak et Tabriz. Ces pratiques sont en violation directe des normes internationales des droits humains et illustrent un mépris délibéré pour la dignité et le bien-être des femmes incarcérées.

Nature Systémique du Travail Forcé

Le travail forcé n’est pas un incident isolé, mais une pratique routinière et institutionnalisée dans le système carcéral iranien à l’encontre des femmes. Les détenues sont contraintes de travailler dans divers domaines, notamment dans les usines, ateliers (tissage de tapis, couture, fabrication de chaussures), le nettoyage, la boulangerie, la cuisine et l’emballage.

Heures de Travail Prolongées et Non Rémunérées

Les femmes détenues sont forcées de travailler pendant de longues heures, souvent au-delà de la journée de travail standard, sans repos adéquat ni rémunération équitable. Un témoignage décrit des femmes travaillant « sans arrêt jusqu'à 16h30, alors que nous devrions rentrer à 15h ». Une autre source mentionne un travail se prolongeant jusqu'à 22h pour certaines. Malgré ces efforts intensifs, les salaires perçus sont qualifiés de « dérisoires », allant de seulement 30 000 à 200 000 tomans par mois.

Exploitation et Absence de Protection Juridique

Les prisonnières qui travaillent dans ces conditions ne sont pas protégées par le droit du travail, les exigences de salaire minimum ou l’assurance sociale. Aucun document légal ne leur est fourni pour leur travail, les exposant ainsi à une exploitation accrue. Un membre du Conseil suprême du travail confirme que « les travailleuses en prison ne sont pas couvertes par le droit du travail, ni par les assurances, et ne sont pas supervisées par le ministère du Travail ». Les profits générés par leur travail bénéficient principalement à l’administration pénitentiaire, en particulier aux directeurs de prison.

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