Qezel Hesar Prison

District 3, Iran

Not open to the public

On private land.

Qezel Hesar Prison, located in Ghezel Hesar near Karaj some 20 kilometers northwest of Tehran, is Iran's largest state prison. Built in the Pahlavi architectural style, the facility has become notorious for severe overcrowding and human rights concerns. As of 2011, it held approximately 20,000 inmates—roughly four times its intended capacity—with the majority detained on drug-related charges. The prison gained international attention following a violent uprising in March 2011 in which, according to official accounts, 14 people were killed and 33 wounded, though independent sources reported substantially higher casualties. Former detainees have documented allegations of torture, abuse by staff, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient medical care. The facility was the site of mass executions in May and June 2015, when at least 77 drug-convicted inmates were executed following a collective appeal for clemency.

Movement

Pahlavi architecture

Type: prison, architectural ensemble
Place: District 3, Iran

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Location

35.80333, 50.86056