For me, hell was not the moment Israel attacked; hell was the moment they wouldn't open the door [of the cell] for us, recalls Motahareh Goonei in her exclusive interview with the BBC. Locked in solitary confinement at Evin Prison, a site known for housing political dissenters, Goonei witnessed the catastrophic bombardment that occurred on June 23, leaving a trail of devastation and loss. Satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts from the event show that numerous lives were lost, including prison staff, visitors, and residents from surrounding areas, amounting to at least 80 fatalities according to Iranian authorities.
In the immediate aftermath, survivors described horrifying scenes as they fought to escape the thick smoke and chaos, some even assisting prison staff and medical personnel despite their own peril. Goonei's harrowing narrative echoes broader human rights concerns, with organizations like Human Rights Watch classifying these strikes as potentially unlawful and a war crime, underscoring the devastating toll of conflict on human lives.
As investigations into the strike continue, experts and advocacy groups call for accountability and the protection of human rights within military operations.
In the immediate aftermath, survivors described horrifying scenes as they fought to escape the thick smoke and chaos, some even assisting prison staff and medical personnel despite their own peril. Goonei's harrowing narrative echoes broader human rights concerns, with organizations like Human Rights Watch classifying these strikes as potentially unlawful and a war crime, underscoring the devastating toll of conflict on human lives.
As investigations into the strike continue, experts and advocacy groups call for accountability and the protection of human rights within military operations.
