Vakilabad Prison
Prison in Mashhad, Iran, holding political detainees
Last refreshed: 31 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why are women protesters being held in Vakilabad Prison's basement?
Timeline for Vakilabad Prison
30 women held in Vakilabad 'Peace Ward'
Iran Conflict 2026- What is Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad?
- Vakilabad Prison is a large correctional facility on the western outskirts of Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city. It has a 'Peace Ward' in its basement that Iran Human Rights documented in May 2026 as holding at least 30 women detainees from the 2025-26 protests, some facing death-penalty moharebeh charges.
- How many women are held in Vakilabad Prison's Peace Ward?
- Iran Human Rights reported on 28 May 2026 that at least 30 women detained during the 2025-26 protests were held in the basement Peace Ward of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, several facing moharebeh charges that carry the death penalty.
- Why are Iranian protest detainees held in provincial prisons like Vakilabad?
- Human rights monitors have noted a pattern of housing politically sensitive protest detainees in provincial facilities away from Tehran, which complicates family visits and access to legal counsel. Mashhad has been a focal point of protest activity during the 2025-26 unrest.
- Where is Vakilabad Prison located?
- Vakilabad Prison is located on the western outskirts of Mashhad in Khorasan Razavi province, north-eastern Iran.
Background
Iran Human Rights (IHR) documented on 28 May 2026 that at least 30 women detained during the 2025-26 protests were being held in the basement 'Peace Ward' of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, several facing moharebeh charges carrying the death penalty. IHR described the ward as a cramped, unventilated basement. The report drew attention to the conditions and the severity of charges being applied to detained women.
Vakilabad Prison is a large correctional facility on the western outskirts of Mashhad, the second-largest city in Iran and a Shia pilgrimage centre in Khorasan Razavi province. The prison holds a substantial population across different security classifications. Its 'Peace Ward' (bande solk) is a section designated in name for lower-risk detainees but which human rights monitors have documented as used for political detainees, often in poor physical conditions.
Mashhad has been a focal point of protest activity during the 2025-26 unrest, partly because of its economic strains and proximity to Afghanistan's border. The use of Vakilabad for politically sensitive detainees, including women facing capital charges, reflects a broader pattern of housing protest prisoners in provincial facilities away from Tehran, complicating family visits and legal access.
