For Motahareh Goonei, the harrowing moment of the attack wasn’t marked by the explosions but by the desperate struggle to escape her cell as Israeli missiles hit Iran’s notorious Evin Prison on June 23. In her exclusive interview, she described how, after the third blast, she thought, ‘this is the end of your life – say goodbye.’
Held in solitary confinement, Goonei was one of thousands of political prisoners trapped in the high-security complex known for its history of detaining dissenters. On this fateful day, the prison became the site of one of the deadliest strikes by Israel on Iranian soil, with Iranian officials claiming 80 people were killed, including prison staff, medical workers, and nearby residents.
Human Rights Watch has condemned the attack as unlawful, declaring it to amount to a war crime, amidst ongoing debates about international humanitarian law violations. The IDF claims the facility was involved in intelligence operations against them.
In her account, Goonei highlighted the chaos that ensued as prisoners rushed to help the injured, defying the guards' initial attempts to contain the situation. 'Freed by another inmate, I stumbled through thick smoke,' she recounted, revealing not only the panic but also the humanity shared amid horror as prisoners bandaged the wounds of guards who had previously threatened their safety.
Held in solitary confinement, Goonei was one of thousands of political prisoners trapped in the high-security complex known for its history of detaining dissenters. On this fateful day, the prison became the site of one of the deadliest strikes by Israel on Iranian soil, with Iranian officials claiming 80 people were killed, including prison staff, medical workers, and nearby residents.
Human Rights Watch has condemned the attack as unlawful, declaring it to amount to a war crime, amidst ongoing debates about international humanitarian law violations. The IDF claims the facility was involved in intelligence operations against them.
In her account, Goonei highlighted the chaos that ensued as prisoners rushed to help the injured, defying the guards' initial attempts to contain the situation. 'Freed by another inmate, I stumbled through thick smoke,' she recounted, revealing not only the panic but also the humanity shared amid horror as prisoners bandaged the wounds of guards who had previously threatened their safety.
