Prisons – War Watch

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‘They beat me until I lost consciousness’: growing reports of brutal arrests, torture and deaths in Iran’s prisons
ByDeepa Parent June 3, 2026

Testimonies from political prisoners and journalists arrested in crackdowns since the war have started to emerge as regime’s internet blackout liftsIranian writer Hamid Asefi wasn’t home on the afternoon of 5 March when armed intelligence agents storme…

Read More ‘They beat me until I lost consciousness’: growing reports of brutal arrests, torture and deaths in Iran’s prisons
Annie Ernaux | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Human rights | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | JM Coetzee | Middle East and north Africa | Nobel peace prize | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Protest | World news

More than 110 Nobel laureates call on Iran to release gravely ill activist Narges Mohammadi
ByDeepa Parent May 12, 2026

As human rights advocate is treated in Tehran hospital after transfer from Zanjan prison, prize winners demand her freedomMore than 110 Nobel laureates have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Narges Mohammadi, the imprisoned Iranian …

Read More More than 110 Nobel laureates call on Iran to release gravely ill activist Narges Mohammadi
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Global development | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nobel peace prize | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Protest | Society | Women's rights and gender equality | World news

Nobel laureate’s smuggled memoir details beatings and neglect in Iranian prisons
ByTess McClure May 10, 2026May 10, 2026

Writing by Narges Mohammadi, arrested 14 times for activism, offers a disturbing insight into treatmentIn an exclusive extract of writing smuggled from prison in Iran, the Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has described the “torture” of solit…

Read More Nobel laureate’s smuggled memoir details beatings and neglect in Iranian prisons
Activism | Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Global development | Human rights | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Somalia | Torture | World news

Woman jailed in Somalia for peaceful protest ‘stripped, kicked and beaten’
BySarah Johnson and Mohamed Bulbul May 7, 2026

In an exclusive interview from prison, Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old rickshaw driver, tells of her treatment after being arrested for demonstrating against the governmentA woman being held in prison in Somalia for taking part in peaceful protests has…

Read More Woman jailed in Somalia for peaceful protest ‘stripped, kicked and beaten’
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Human rights | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nobel peace prize | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | World news

Family of ailing Iranian Nobel laureate say keeping her in jail is a death sentence
ByDeepa Parent April 29, 2026

Narges Mohammadi denied medical leave from prison in spite of sharp decline in health and drastic weight loss, say lawyersThe family of the jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi say they fear for her life after a sharp deterioration in her hea…

Read More Family of ailing Iranian Nobel laureate say keeping her in jail is a death sentence
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Dubai | Foreign policy | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Law | Life and style | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | UK news | United Arab Emirates

‘I was beaten and tortured’: how a British father and son made a fortune in Dubai then became wanted men
ByWill Coldwell April 5, 2026

As the Middle East is drawn into war, expats and influencers are under pressure to only share the positive side of the UAE. In reality many are at risk of being put behind bars, and often find the UK government has little interest in helping them get o…

Read More ‘I was beaten and tortured’: how a British father and son made a fortune in Dubai then became wanted men
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Capital punishment | Donald Trump | Drugs trade | Gaza | Human rights | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Mohammed bin Salman | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Saudi Arabia | World news

‘Don’t they have mercy?’: A mother on losing her son in a record year of Saudi executions
ByTom Levitt January 26, 2026

Essam al-Shazly is the latest foreign national to die in a ‘horrifying’ surge in capital punishment under the rule of Mohammed bin SalmanIn his four years on death row, Essam al-Shazly’s mother was his only contact with the outside world. During their …

Read More ‘Don’t they have mercy?’: A mother on losing her son in a record year of Saudi executions
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Capital punishment | Donald Trump | Gaza | Global development | Human rights | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Law | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Women's rights and gender equality | World news

Child bride spared execution in Iran after blood money is paid
BySarah Johnson December 11, 2025

Guardian story helped to draw attention to planned hanging of Goli Kouhkan over death of abusive husbandA child bride who was due to be executed this month in Iran over the death of her husband has had her life spared by his parents, who were paid the …

Read More Child bride spared execution in Iran after blood money is paid
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Capital punishment | Donald Trump | Drugs trade | Gaza | Global development | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Mohammed bin Salman | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Saudi Arabia | World news

‘I’ll be executed on Tuesday’: families reveal panicked last calls from foreigners on Saudi’s death row
ByTom Levitt and Guardian reporters November 12, 2025

Relatives share with the Guardian final words of those killed amid ‘horrifying’ surge in capital punishment under Mohammed bin Salman’s ruleIn the city of Tabuk in the far north of Saudi Arabia, neon lights flicker on in an overcrowded ward of a prison…

Read More ‘I’ll be executed on Tuesday’: families reveal panicked last calls from foreigners on Saudi’s death row
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Capital punishment | Donald Trump | Drugs trade | Gaza | Global development | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Mohammed bin Salman | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Prisons | Saudi Arabia | World news

‘I’ll be executed on Tuesday’: families reveal panicked last calls from foreigners on Saudi’s death row
ByTom Levitt and Guardian reporters November 12, 2025

Relatives share with the Guardian final words of those killed amid ‘horrifying’ surge in capital punishment under Mohammed bin Salman’s ruleIn the city of Tabuk in the far north of Saudi Arabia, neon lights flicker on in an overcrowded ward of a prison…

Read More ‘I’ll be executed on Tuesday’: families reveal panicked last calls from foreigners on Saudi’s death row