Viral Show Season 6 Episode 5 – Interview with Masoud Alizadeh, 2009 Detainee

Kahrizak: The Place They Called “The End of the World”

Masoud Alizadeh begins his narrative with a precise description of the “geography of horror.” Arrested on July 9, 2009, he initially thought he would be transferred to Evin Prison. However, fate led him through the desert roads to Kahrizak.

“The person with me said, ‘Be happy we aren’t going to Evin,’ but we had no idea what hell we were entering,” Alizadeh recalls.

At that time, under the management of figures like Saeed Mortazavi and Ahmad-Reza Radan, Kahrizak operated outside the oversight of the Prisons Organization.

The Tunnel of Terror and the Quarantine of Death

The detainees’ first encounter with Kahrizak was the “Tunnel of Terror”a line of guards beating the young protesters on their heads and bodies with pipes and sticks. Alizadeh describes the catastrophic human conditions:

• Overcrowding: 130 people crammed into a 60-square-meter space with no ventilation or windows.
• Zero Hygiene: No doors for toilets and infestations of vermin.
• Heat and Thirst: Temperatures exceeding 60°C (140°F) in July, forcing detainees to drink green, foul-smelling well water to survive.

He describes the most agonizing part as the use of “diesel fumes” to suffocate protesters within the enclosed quarantine area a method that reminded him of World War II gas chambers.

Sexual Assault and Using Dangerous Criminals as Torture Tools

One of the most horrific parts of Alizadeh’s whistleblowing is the confirmation of reports regarding sexual assault in detention centers. Referring to a recently released video of a female detainee’s account from 2022, he says: “When I saw that video, I was involuntarily thrown back 16 years. In Kahrizak, sexual assault was a clear reality.”

He recounts how prison guards used hardened criminals (convicted of murder and rape) to torture and sexually abuse young protesters. Alizadeh remembers a 70-year-old man known as “Baba Ali” who was subjected to gang rapes scenes so traumatic that other detainees would stay thirsty for hours just to avoid going near the area where these atrocities occurred.

Vital Advice for Families: “Shout Their Names”

Many families of political prisoners remain silent due to threats from security agencies. Based on his personal experience, Alizadeh considers this silence the “greatest danger.”

Why is public disclosure necessary?

• Safety through Visibility: When a detainee’s name goes viral, the cost of harming them increases for the suppressive forces.
• International Documentation: Publicly announced names are included in UN and human rights watchlists, which can prevent executions or enforced disappearances.
• Personal Experience: Alizadeh notes that while in solitary confinement and under torture, their only hope was that people outside would scream their names.

Warning Regarding “Suspicious Pills”

A crucial point Alizadeh raises is the issue of toxic medications in prison. He warns families to tell their loved ones never to accept pills from prison officials or interrogators. He recounts his 2009 experience where, after severe torture, he was given pills that were later found in blood tests to contain specific toxins.

Comparing 2009 to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement

Having experienced both eras, Alizadeh believes the suppression machine in 2022 has become far more brutal and technological:

• New Weaponry: Use of pellet guns, laser-sighted rifles, and advanced tear gas.
• Non-Iranian Forces: He believes the level of brutality on the streets indicates the use of proxy forces.
• Role of Social Media: Today, the world learns of atrocities instantly, something that was not possible on this scale in 2009.

From Victim to Advocate

Today, Masoud Alizadeh is a human rights activist representing those tortured in illegal detention centers. By appearing before the United Nations and speaking with special rapporteurs, he has turned his bitter experience into a tool for justice.

His message to Iranians abroad is clear: “Be the ambassadors for the prisoners’ voices.” And to those inside Iran: “Do not be afraid. Say the names of your detained loved ones; silence only gives the torturer a freer hand.”

Masoud’s story is the story of a generation that paid a heavy price for freedom between the walls of Kahrizak and the streets of Tehran. He remains a voice for those who have none in solitary confinement.