Notorious Iranian Prison Chief Escapes Israeli Airstrike in Last-Minute Warning

Hedayatollah Farzadi, director of Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, narrowly escaped Israeli airstrikes targeting the facility after a secret warning was relayed to his family, according to Fox News. Farzadi, sanctioned by the U.S. and EU for alleged human rights abuses including torture and killings of political prisoners, fled minutes before the attack on June 23, 2025.

Israeli intelligence reportedly contacted Farzadi’s son, Amir Husseini Farzadi, via WhatsApp, demanding his father release political prisoners to spare his life. The message warned: “Tell your father to open the prison’s doors—the attack will begin in a few minutes.” After the son relayed the warning, Farzadi was evacuated by family members just before the strike commenced. His current whereabouts remain unknown.

The airstrikes were part of Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Footage released by the IDF showed fighter jets preparing for the operation, while Iranian media depicted extensive damage at Evin Prison. The prison, notorious for detaining dissidents, suffered heavy destruction, though casualty numbers have not been confirmed.

Farzadi, who has led Evin Prison since 2022, is accused by human rights organizations and Western governments of overseeing brutal abuses, including torture and arbitrary executions. The U.S. Treasury listed him on its sanctions blacklist for his role in harsh crackdowns on protesters. The European Union also condemned the Iranian judiciary for increased executions and arbitrary detentions, highlighting Farzadi’s history of cruelty at other prisons prior to his current post.