In a recent tragedy at an Iranian drug rehabilitation camp in Langrud, dozens of individuals battling addiction fell victim to a devastating fire—a grim outcome attributed to the regime’s inhumane policies within these facilities.
The paradox of the mullahs’ regime, responsible for fostering addiction and turning Iran into a hub for drug trafficking, is evident as it inflicts harm on the very individuals caught in the cycle of addiction within these camps.
Instead of addressing the pain of addicts and applying scientifically-backed treatments, the victims are subjected to heinous acts by the regime’s agents. In this recent incident, akin to past ones, vulnerable individuals seeking refuge lost their lives due to the regime’s negligence in ensuring proper safety measures.
The grim conditions within these camps are vividly portrayed in the regime’s state-run media. Reports outline dysentery outbreaks resulting in fatalities, paramedics coercing individuals for medication, and brutal beatings for minor infractions. The narratives are so distressing that they compel interview interruptions, necessitating breaks for those reporting on the situation.
For years, the regime has employed various methods to control Iran’s afflicted society, including the establishment of forced labor camps for so-called “small drug dealers.” A 2010 agreement highlighted the construction of these camps on the outskirts of major cities, targeting individuals transferred from prisons to work in harsh conditions.
A subsequent revelation in 2016 exposed the appalling conditions within a detention camp for drug-addicted women, where unsanitary conditions, corporal punishment, and deprivation of food and medicine resulted in tragic deaths. Fires have become a routine occurrence in these camps, causing excruciating suffering for those residing within.
Notably, the regime often deflects responsibility for these events onto the residents of the camps. In a recent fire in Langrud’s camp, authorities declared it intentional and arrested a former patient as the suspected arsonist. Similar incidents in other locations, such as Noorabad city in Lorestan province, underscore the alarming frequency of such tragedies.
A member of Langrod city council exposed the regime’s negligence, revealing that government funds are rarely allocated for the construction of drug rehabilitation camps. Instead, old buildings, often abandoned schools and kindergartens, are minimally renovated and licensed to operate as rehabilitation camps. The meager funds collected from patients make it practically impossible to adequately maintain these centers.
Over the years, numerous reports have highlighted the poor conditions of addiction treatment camps in Iran, with approximately 7,500 such centers, many operating without proper licenses, posing a significant risk of future catastrophes.
Quoted speeches and comments provide a chilling insight into the ordeal faced by those within these camps. The spokesperson of the country’s emergency organization reported a fire in a rehab camp for women in Qarchak Varamin in 2018, stating that 12 people were injured, with six in serious condition. The recent fire in Noorabad city, reported on November 6, 2023, was contained through swift action by firefighting forces. However, these incidents remain emblematic of the broader crisis within Iran’s rehabilitation camps.
