96 TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 Correspondence to:[email protected] Correspondence confinement. solitary in housed being convicts and defendants prohibits explicitly 435/2004 No.precedent judicial in of AdministrativeJustice Court 1996.section Penal Code,Additionally,adopted the Islamic the of 579 and 578 and 1999 of Procedure Act Criminal of Code the of 129 Rights, Civil Article of Protection and Freedoms Legitimate Respecting for Act i is lackingcredibility." allowed. Suchevidence, confessionoroath, testify, confessorgive aforcedoath arenot forbidden. Compulsionofindividualsto is information confessionoracquiring extort explicitly states that, to "Any kindoftorture 38oftheconstitution ofIran Article allowed law understate inIran. orreligious was freedin2014. inSection350,about sixyears EvinPrison, I andsentencedtoprison. Court After ary incidents, Iwas convicted bytheRevolution- in many senses. Finally, becauseofthosetwo confinement.solitary This timemarkedme and thistimeIspentaboutninemonthsin Guards(‘Sepah-e-Pasdaran’)Revolutionary forasecondtime.arrested Itwas bythe after thepresidentialelectionin2009, Iwas the repression torture. During psychological ran). with That timeIwas was faced thefirst (Teh- confinementinEvinprison solitary gence officialsin2008andspent38days in for two semesters. byintelli- Iwas arrested committeedidnotallow metostudy nary zines. Becauseofthis, theuniversity discipli- association andpublishingstudentmaga- university byfoundingasecularstudent my activismat politicalandhumanrights in1985 I was born Tehran, Iran. Istarted Khodaei M. S. Tehranin prison Evin 350, Section confinement, Solitary Similar statements can be found in Article 9 of the 2004 the of 9 in Article found be can statements Similar Solitary confinement is in fact not confinementisinfact Solitary

i However, we still 1983). White torture can lead to permanent through dreams and hallucinations (Grassian, stimuli leads to the brain stimulating itself, control in daily needs. The absence of external Reduced environmental stimuli, and loss of cal damage is mainly due to social isolation. (2008) pointed out that long-term psychologi- many years later. In his seminal review, Shalev physical and psychological, can be traced they are not visible. Both types of scars, suffering of solitary confinement, in part as psychological torture in general and the They may find it difficult to understand where physical pain and suffering is used. traditional methods of torture in their minds, Koestler.Arthur MiguelBenasayag and European writers Taghi Shahram, Vida Hajebiandthe Shahi, Bozorg Alavi, Ghahramanian, Safar prisoners, suchasIranianprisoners, Eza`t can have ofpolitical accesstomemories ment isthesubjectofpublicdebate. Readers are exposedto, confine- includingsolitary sions aboutthetypeoftreatment prisoners elections that took place in 2009), the discus- afterthe of conscienceinIran(inparticular andprisoners number ofpoliticalprisoners International, 2002).Reform (Mendez,considered torture 2015; Penal for morethan15days canbyitselfbe which considerthat any isolation that lasts regarding minimumconditionsofdetention, lawinternational andtheMandelarules detention centers. This alsogoesagainst in Iran, associated tounofficial particularly witness thewidespreaduseofthesemethods Many people will have in mind the In recentyears, withanincreasing S E V I T C E P S R E P TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 97 We define solitary confinement in Iran, at at define solitary confinement in Iran, We days, my cell was relatively large, so that in that so large, relatively was cell my days, in a the morning around it, I could walk was the bathroom corner of the cell, then I was but by a wall, separated about 2 was cell that transferred to a tiny basin and feet by 4 feet without a wash to go to the Each time I wanted toilet. I should drop out paper for this toilet, purpose from under the door until the guards realized..." I someone. to talk to wanted I me, bothered of charge in was who officer the to talked or more receiving about distribution, food to forced was he eventually until food less I that lie a tell would I Sometimes speak. prison a force would which toilet the needed sentence, one least, at me, to talk to officer sometimes and hard very was talking but questions”. my answer not did they two only period, this During confinement. solitary 7.2 months on confinement was men (average all young They were average. minimum 22) maximum 54, age 38.6, and non-political detained for political Half of them had had a previous reasons. experience of solitary confinement. least among the people whom I interviewed as being held in experience, own and in my with only contact with complete isolation guards and sometimes interrogators for long or being permanentlyperiods held in of time, a a cell with less than one hour of access to while being blindfolded. yard Conditions of detention space and facilities of solitaryThe physical some key there were but confinement vary, configure the experienceelements that of detainees (in brackets is the number of the interviewee): • "The first few Size of room and bathroom: too "Loneliness • interaction: human No • solitary in days 42 was "I isolation: Social It is not the purpose of this paper to to paper this of purpose the not is It The period they had been in that of time review the existing medical and psychiatric psychiatric and medical existing the review be would It confinement. solitary on literature including sellers, book Big impossible. simply have not do We Iran. serve not do Amazon, partial only and databases medical to access wants paper This providers. Internet to access solitary on literature existing the to add to and experience the describing by confinement survivors. Iranian 16 of sample a in impacts with others who Talking have experienced solitary confinement Method and while During the period 2013 and 2014, I had been transferred from solitary confine- I spoke with 16 ment to the communal ward, Ward male prisoners who had also been in 350 of Evin Prison and had also experienced solitary during confinement the preceding a brief I talked to them following years. five semi-structured interview and tried to information systematize own in as far as my conditions of access to pen and paper and security concerns with the materials obtained not optimal These conditions were allowed. the informationbut during these talks was straight and honest among co-detainees. lacks the accuracy the data of an Thus, gives unique insights as but academic study, senses, in many it has been done and written, by prisoners within the prison. impairments in brain activity including including activity brain in impairments 2009). (O'Mara, tissue brain the to damage have others and Watch Rights Human Commit- Judiciary Senate US the to reported who people of number large a that tee mentally are confinement solitary in remained of history a have not did they though even ill, more are there that and illness, mental (Human confinement solitary in suicides Special Nations United 2009; Watch, Rights 2014). Grassian, 2007; Rapporteur, PERSPECTIVES 98 TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 • Sensory deprivation -Blindfold: Sensory All • overload -light: Sensory The guards, at • overload - Sensory Troubling sounds: • The Lack of intimacy:• “Once in a cell, behind the two-three Culturalisolation:“The first • "After entering theprison,"After entering theygave mea It was sometimeseven usedinthe cell. andintheyard. interrogations used during were blindfolded. The blindfoldwas also at thedetentioncenter onarrival prisoners sleep blindfolded.” have toputmy headunderablanketor my cellinaway that, tosleepat night, I twenty-four aday, hours lampswere litin lamp was litasanightlight”. “For night, offcelllampsandonlyone turn from thespeakers.” ceremoniesthat werereligious broadcasted the airconditioner. “We hadtohearthe ceremonies,mourning andthesoundof hallway, thesoundofreligious Ashura sounds: voices andscreaminginthe highlydisturbing detainees reported small camera somewhere near the ceiling." camera … and, after searching, I found a I realized that in the cells, there must be a cells and asked how did I get matches?...then a few minutes the guards rushed into my one of them to for entertainment (sic). After sink, I found a pack of matches and turned go tothecellwheretherewas atelevision." per andinthelastmonthIwas allowed to repeatedly insisting, Igotonceanewspa- monthafter myself. Itwas thefourth piece ofpapersoIcouldsneakaway with the trashoutsidecell, Ilookedfora my cell. bad. Itwas very Intheyard orin months, noteven bookswere in religious months had no contact with their family." because others - even over a period of that I was lucky that I had that possibility transferred to the general ward, I realized I able to talk with my family. After I was or three times for less than five minutes was

Breaking identity: Detainees had to wear • System of rewards: Food• quality and buying Natural light: thenearlythree “During • once a month shaving was carried out, even their hair and shaved their faces. “Usually officials at specified times, cut completely logic, it was the opposite and prison asking so. For others, without apparent cut for a long time even when explicitly they were deprived of having a shave or hair prison clothes. Some prisoners said that was served with yogurt.” much better -even for lunch roast chicken with softer conditions, food quality was edible, but, at the last place of detention, the food quality was so bad that it was not centers. In some, under harsh conditions, team. “I was detained in several detention with the authorization of the interrogation things were conditioned and only possible food, forme." was akindofentertainment through thewindow. Trying togivethem sound ofdoves ofrice andthrewgrains came intomy cell. SometimesIheardthe cell covered withlattice steel. Sunlight largewindow neartheceilingofmyfairly special way ofpunishment. "Therewas a anditwas usedasa general experience natural lightintothecell.” This was nota outandtherewaswindows no facing wasThe worst that thecellshadno was moved toadifferent cellseveral times. confinementI thatyears Iwas insolitary blindfolded insidethecell." into thebathroom, Ididnothave tobe blindfold only in the yard and, when I went ground, theguardallowed metousethe overtimes ofnearlyfalling andhittingthe to seethefrontofmy foot. After many Icoulddoupmy blindfoldenough learned firmly, andleadingme. dragging Later, I Iwent,Everywhere someonetookmy arm bad,I feltvery couldnotseeanything. that was usedasablindfold.piece offabric S E V I T C E P S R E P TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 99 aggressive aggressive commit commit emotional emotional , and especially long-term , , labelled in their own words as words their own labelled in , of which only a minority (3/16) ever of which only a minority (3/16) ever during their time in solitary confine- When asked about their mental state, mental state, When asked about their Also a majority (9/16) complained of Most of them (8/16) expressed Half of the detainees (7/16) recognized most prisoners they said that (11/16) severe suffered some kind of breakdown anxiety or permanent irritability. depression, “My sleep time increased Symptoms varied: my I feel that anxiously, I eat sharply, no energy there was veryconfidence was low, I still feel very body and tired duringin my "I had little appetite, most of the day."; much sleep time was my eat, couldn’t this tired and I think always I was reduced, due to a special feeling of helplessness: was any do not have You cannot do anything. you lose confidence and control and thus you “As give up.”; you being aware, without even more tension was there passed, more days To nerves failing. were and anxiety and my “Especially in a wall."; I punched try relax, to I had difficulty months, the first one or two falling I was I saw nightmares; in sleeping, At the time asleep. from height when I was insomnia." disturbed and I had sleep was my symptoms cognitive amnesia, lack of concentration and inability lack of concentration amnesia, since the “I could not concentrate to think. first of the confinement and this lasted day it was “Just after few days all the time since”. I had a kind of like everything erased. was home I could not remember my amnesia. my time, after that phone number and still, I can’t amnesia for essential things remain. remember names and numbers”. suicide feelings "I do not least once before. had had at so nervous I was and with remember that rage before solitary I had confinement but unsurmountableduringtimes several feelings period."that planned or triedopenly having to after I was transferred from solitary from transferred was I after " ... cell multiplayer the to confinement could leave we but the hours the day, of or corridor in the yard the cell and walk the ability to area in certain circumstances, do so and the frequency and duration be subject to permissionwould from the half an “Every day, [chief] interrogator.” hour in the morning and in the evening, with in the yard forced to walk were we people together in a straight line, several not able to see were We back and forth. of removal each other as they did not allow about 10 days, all." "For the blindfold at except for the cell did not leave we and then every day, interrogation and bath, In into the yard. for 10 minutes I went of regular after some days some cases, prisoners suddenly facedwalking, were logic”. with restrictions without any PERSPECTIVES usually imprisoned during were • “We Yard: the main elements that In summary, configured life in solitary were confinement sensory deprivation the size of the cell, blindfolded (solitary confinement in the cell, of deprivation sensory overload, in the yard), to attacks lack of intimacy, social contact, identity and individuality and a system of no clear rules. and punishment with rewards Impacts Solitary senses, your confinement deprives banns colors. most than anything but Because of blindfolds and because of the surroundsmonotonous tones of what you. Colors heart the are at of emotions and “”When this Quoting Koestler: feelings. morning,the first for time I looked out of the a greenfield landscape and saw window all a it was and trees, filled with flowers the trees and The main issue is that dream. notice you that, after Only color. have flowers of black and white and its the monotony pp 238-9). 2006 (Koestler, impact” 100 TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 ontv ypos(Ansa,“ako ocnrto”“nblt otik)64% Hallucinations Suicide ideation /attempts Aggressive feelings Cognitive Symptoms(“Amnesia”, “Lack ofconcentration” “Inability tothink”) Emotional breakdown (“Depression” “Anxiety”…) Self-declared symptoms Table 1: to having vessels andfinallybroke." the plasticspooncouldnotdeeplycutmy was notat alltolerable. Butitdidn’t work, commit suicide. suffering The psychological with themealtocutmy veins, to Itried to killmyself usingaplasticspoonthat came ment. month, "Attheendoffirst Itried carpet andwecarpet usedonlyablanketthat was legs andknees. The floorwas justaflat for days andnights. Ihadalotofpaininmy knee pain. “I hadtositorsleeponthefloor ration ofjoints, especiallyinthefeet, and confinement.solitary Among these, deterio- physical during problemsthat hadarisen (16/16)saidthat theyhad Everybody confinement solitary during state Physical that thismeans. with thepositive aspects andthelimitations distress intheown words ofmy co-detainees, clinical interview. They aretheexpressionof toms areself-declaredanddonotfollow a kind ofspecialcase, tofindnothing." at nightthinkingthat therewas aform, a nous thinginmy cell. Igotupseveral times "After fourmonths, Ibegantoseealumi- around,turned but therewas nothing."; me thesoundofmy mother'spraying. I night Iwas sittinginthecell, Iheardbehind Additionally, somepeople(3/16)referred Table theresults. 2summarizes Symp-

Frequency ofSymptomsreported. Frequency hallucinations ii . "After30days, one

ii realized that it was only an hallucination.an only was it that realized me.days,manyon I After pressure put to cell my in stay to him sent had interrogators the thought hours.I and hours for me stared he that felt time.I that at arrested been had who Iran in well-knownkiller a me besides see gation lasted several hours longer than usual”. stuttering got so much worse that the interro- “During the period of solitary confinement, my disease”. my prostate worsened which reasons the of one was toilets to access of lack that think I vision." lost had and weaker weremy eyes that noticed myI glasses, got and ward general the to transferred was I myglasses. use months 4 not After could confinement, solitary I forbidden during mentioned. “I usedtowear glassesbut itwas were also amongprisoners disorders colitis, disease kidneystonesandheart hypertension, diabetes, prostate, colon kneepain,intense stuttering, neckpain, This includedreducedeyesight, more confinement.that hadgotworse insolitary physical problemsthat theypreviouslyhad that time.”during survivors. “My teethwere severely eroded tooth erosionwere alsomentioned by pain intheback, severe dizzinessandrapid captivity." Damagetothekidneys, eyesight, was morepronouncedinthelastdays of asamattress.thrown inacorner Kneepain I had an experience myself when one night I began to began I night one when myself experience an had I For mostofthem(11/16)therewere also S E V I T C E P S R E P 21% 50% 57% 78% TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 101 security risks co-detainees the fellow of all of will and experiences, who shared their views of Iran insight in the situation help to give solitaryand in the impacts of as confinement must be abol- that an inhuman condition ished by international law. We hope that this study, done in very this study, hope that We difficult conditions and assuming many difficult conditions and assuming many Coping with solitary confinement on reflected we conversations, the all After was It confinement. face to tried one each how two that observation qualitative general a or political a relevant: especially were elements of experience previous and belief religious not did things Both confinement. solitary slightly it made but dramatically, things change that elements were Both with. deal to easier religiously or Politically cope. to us helped less somewhat had persons motivated and meaning find could or impacts emotional Also conditions. harsher with even them, calm to people helped experience previous having themselves. orient and routines assume both support data statistical no Although both prison in conversations our in assertions, us. of all of thoughts shared were Conclusions Although all kinds of torture are forbidden inin Iran, practice, solitary confinement is used as a ofway obtaining confessions by police forces and intelligence officials for politicalroutinely, and non-political prisoners. In addition, because of the lack of inspections, the country’s hidden detention centers and prisons are beyond the control of monitoring Assystems a and judges. thereresult, is no registration either of the detentionVictims nor how was it carried. cannot whatprove had happen to them and the conditions in solitary confinement in This was also casemy once court. freed, after six years in prison. International organizations recommend and international law prescribes systematic monitoring and inspection of detention centers, prisons and all places where people are deprived of their This needs to be effectively imple- liberty. mented in Solitary Iran. confinement is torture. Its destroys the soul and the body. PERSPECTIVES 102 TORTURE Volume 27, Number 2, 2017 O’Mara,S.(2009). folk Torturingthe brain:on the (2004).health mental for work frame service National Mendez.,J.,Mendez,J. & (2013). Report- Thematic Soli- on Statement Mendez.,Reporteur J.Special UN per- of prevalence (2011),"The al M.,Mazaheri,et secu- Hakimyoun,and intelligence I.(2007),Iranian an Psychiatry of Journal (2002), al et H. Palahang, PenalReform, for Organization International The. Rights Human WatchIllness,Human (2009).Mental solitary of effects Grassian,S.(2006). Psychiatric Grassian,S.Psychiatry.(1983). J Nov; Am 1983 Koestler, A.(2006). Deathwith(Wit-Interview Hilgard's (1987).& al Atkinson, R.L.,Atkinson et B.,Arrigo,Bullock, J.Leslie (2008). Psychologi- “The Bayan.Saqez,& (2008).Arasteh, Modabber, Sharifi Anson, V.with (2009). interview an In torture. White References Retrieved from:www.mentalhealth.org.ukRetrieved Pack,Resource 2004, Information Samaritans Nations.ington:United (Vol.updating needs Prisoners 42285). Wash- the for Rules Minimum TreatmentStandard of (2011).New § Confinement,44570 tary York. Sciences,cal Vol.13,pp. 55-52 Medi- in Research of Journal prison", Zahedan of prisoners female among disorders sonality Studies. Historical Contemporary Iranian for Institute Shah,Reza of end the Tehran:until agencies rity 64-57. Psychology, Clinical pp 13,Volume Number 8, Rah-e Tarbiat. prison. the in regulations Tehran:international of application practice:the prison (2002).In human-rights-and-us-prisons www.hrw.org/news/2009/09/22/mental-illness- https://from prisons. Retrieved us and Rights 22(617),325–383. Policy,and Law of confinement. Journal 140(11):1450-4. Xerxes. Tehran:Publishing,Ney SecondEdition. Spain),ness Translator:Deyhimi, N; Deyhimi, XXI. Print Translator:al.,et Baraheni,Mn Tehran:Roushd Edition).(Second Psychology to Introduction ogy,52.6,622-40. Offender ComparativeCriminol- and Therapy of Journal units”,International max super in Prisoners on confinement solitary of Effect cal Health,No.Mental of 316-311.4,damentals pp Fun- of Sanandaj", Journal of Prison Central the in disorders psychiatric of prevalence "The article/0112e980714.html persian/news/newsitem/archive/2009/agust/18/ http://www.roozonline.com/from Retrieved Online.Rooz site the on Hoseinpour Blaze

d United Nations Economic and Social Council Social and Economic Nations United psychi- of prevalenceal. (2006),"The et Shariat,SV Shams,prison. Science A.(2007),General Tehran: confine- Shalev, solitary S.on (2008). sourcebook A Defin torture. P. Pérez-Sales Psychological (2016). ECN152015_L6_e_V1503048.pdf CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_24/resolutions/L6/ unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/ from:http://www.Rules). Retrieved Mandela the for (the Rules TreatmentPrisoners of Minimum Standard Nations (2015).United 36-25 Sciences,Medical Volume3,pp 63,Number in Tehran",of Faculty the Tehranof University prison Qasr of prisoners male in disorders atric Rah-e Tarbiat Science. Politicaland ogy.Economics of School London Criminol- for Centre ment.London:Mannheim Books. Routledge measurement. and evaluation tion, pp 497-500. pp niques'. Trendssciences,cogn Vol.13,Issue:12. tech- interrogation coercive and 'enhanced motivating neurobiology folk and psychology S E V I T C E P S R E P i-