71 dead after Israeli bombing of dissidents' prison in Iran

Iranian judicial authorities reported Sunday that 71 people were killed in last week's Israeli bombing of Tehran's Evin Prison, where political prisoners and opponents of the Islamic Republic are being held.

"In the attack on Evin Prison, 71 people were killed, including prison administrative staff, inmates, visiting relatives of prisoners, and residents living near the prison," Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told Mizan News Agency.

Jahangir also said the June 23 attack resulted in a large number of injuries, but did not specify how many.

According to the source, Israeli shells hit the visiting room where meetings between relatives and prisoners were held, killing several people.

He also indicated that residential buildings in the surrounding area were also affected.

Tehran's Evin Prison is one of the main detention centers for dissidents, critical journalists, and other opponents of the Iranian regime.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed the attack on the prison on the day it occurred, writing on X: ' Long live freedom, damn it!', a catchphrase of Argentine President Javier Milei.

The UN Human Rights Office considered the attack on the prison a serious violation of international law, calling for the protection of prisoners regardless of whether they are being arbitrarily imprisoned or serving sentences for crimes they actually committed, and the prison should not have been a military target.