TEHRAN – Iran has released 900 inmates from Tehran’s Evin Prison following an Israeli airstrike on the facility on June 23, 2025, senior judicial officials said on Sunday. 
Gholamali Muhammadi, head of Iran’s Prisons Organization, said the attack by the Zionist regime caused major damage to the prison. He confirmed that all prisoners were safely evacuated to other Tehran detention centers within hours of the strike.
The airstrike, which hit administrative and visitation areas, was condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as a violation of international law. Iranian officials say the attack killed dozens, including inmates, staff, and civilians nearby.
Muhammadi said emergency teams worked “day and night” to rebuild damaged parts of the prison, completing repairs in less than 40 days. Some prisoners have already returned, and the remainder are expected to be transferred back soon.
He added that, as part of legal leniency measures, 900 prisoners were released on furlough or other legal grounds in the days following the attack. Visitation services resumed three days later.
Iran’s Attorney General Muhammad Mohebi Azad praised the swift response of prison authorities during a meeting of the Prison Population Reduction Taskforce, which is held quarterly. He urged officials to also address long-term solutions such as crime prevention, economic factors, and social rehabilitation.
“Education, spiritual guidance, and better monitoring of cybercrime are crucial in reducing prison populations,” he said.
Azad also highlighted ongoing efforts to expedite legal cases and promote reconciliation through mediation, calling it a key strategy to ease overcrowding.
The taskforce is also reviewing the costs and deployment of electronic monitoring devices and the logistics of transferring inmates between facilities during crises.