For me, hell was not the moment Israel attacked; hell was the moment they wouldn't open the door [of the cell] for us, Motahareh Goonei recalls in an exclusive interview with the BBC. A political activist, Goonei was in solitary confinement in Iran's notorious Evin Prison when it was hit in a targeted attack by Israel on 23 June. Satellite imagery, witness accounts and verified footage obtained by BBC News Persian reveal new details of the attack in the closing hours of the Israel-Iran war and of those who died. The high-security complex, perched on the northern edge of Tehran, has held thousands of political prisoners over the past half-century. On that day in June, the prison became the site of the deadliest Israeli strike on Iranian soil in terms of civilian casualties. Iranian authorities say 80 people were killed - among them prison staff, inmates, medical workers, visitors and residents of nearby neighbourhoods. In a report published on 14 August, Human Rights Watch said that Israeli air strikes on the prison were unlawfully indiscriminate and amounted to an apparent war crime. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the reason for the attack was that the facility was being used for intelligence operations against Israel.
Inside Israel’s Deadly Strike on Iran's Evin Prison
Inside Israel’s Deadly Strike on Iran's Evin Prison
In a gripping firsthand account, prisoner Motahareh Goonei shares her terrifying experience during the Israeli missile strike on Evin Prison, revealing both chaos and heroism amidst tragedy
On June 23, Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Iran’s Evin Prison, resulting in 80 casualties, including prison staff, inmates, and nearby residents. Eyewitness Motahareh Goonei recounts her harrowing experience, as chaos unfolded and prisoners rushed to save injured guards and medical staff. The attack has sparked allegations of war crimes due to the targeting of a civilian facility, raising significant concerns about the legality and morality of such military actions.
