In a letter to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council on June 28, Said Irabani condemned the intentional targeting of Tehran’s Zionist regime for a serious violation of international law, including Article 33 of Article 33 of the total prisons.
Below is the text of his letter:
In the name of God, the most compassionate and most merciful
Your Honor,
Based on instructions from my government, in accordance with previous communications regarding the massive, polite and planned conduct of military attacks by the Israeli regime on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic, I write to convey the Islamic Republic attacked by the Islamic Republic, which had withstanded the attacks of the Islamic Republic and the Une style of attacks on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 10:30am local time against the Ebin Prison in Tehran.
Targeting clearly identified civil prisons, the attack constitutes a blatant and gross violation of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. As a direct result of this reckless attack, numerous civilians, including corrections officers, prison staff, visiting families and prisoners, martyred either because of the impact of the strike or the trauma that it caused. Major prison infrastructure, including clinics, entrances, kitchens and visiting rooms, has been destroyed. Many civilians were seriously injured. In particular, prison social worker Zahra Ebadi and his 5-year-old son Mehrad Kheiri were found dead under the tile rub three days after the attack.
The intentional targeting of detention housing housing in state detention is a serious violation of international law, including, but not limited to, Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits collective punishment, intimidation and terrorist acts against parents. It also violates the UN’s standard minimum rules for treating prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rule) that ensures detainees have access to health care without discrimination. Furthermore, the attack violates the fundamental principles of distinction under international humanitarian law, requiring that all parties always distinguish between civilian and military purposes.
The destruction of prison medical facilities, in particular, has made it impossible to provide emergency life-saving care to critical detainees. The resulting humanitarian crisis and logistical challenges have seriously undermined the ability of detainees to maintain their rights and ensure safety. The chaos and fear induced by this wild attack put all detainees at extreme risk, especially women and other vulnerable groups.
The sudden attack robbed Iranian authorities of the opportunity to take safeguards in accordance with their national and international obligations. After the strike, the Islamic Republic government in Iran was forced to immediately relocate surviving prisoners to other correctional facilities, resulting in severe overcrowding and already exposed to a fragile system.
Given the severity of this heinous and horrifying crime, the Islamic Republic of Iran has called on the UN Security Council and the Secretary-General to:
1. Explicitly condemn the Israeli regime’s attack on Evin Prison as a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
2. Retain perpetrators responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. and
3. Take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of heinous conduct that threatens not only the lives of civilians in detention, but also the foundations of international legal order.
This attack constitutes a dangerous and unacceptable escalation. It strikes the heart of the collective responsibility of the international community to support the rule of law and protect the rights and dignity of everyone, including those in detention. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that your Excellency and your respected office will treat this issue with urgency and the seriousness it demands.
If you distribute your current letter and its attachments as a security board document, I should be grateful.
We ask for your best considerations, please accept His Excellency.
MNA/TSN