The Iranian Diaspora Collective: The Iran Prison Project

The Iranian Diaspora Collective (IDC) and global creative agency WongDoody launch ‘The Iran Prison Project’. By creating an interpretation of Evin Prison in the metaverse, this interactive experience sheds light on testimonies from former political prisoners and dissidents that reflect the horrendous abuses of the Iranian Regime. Built as a web-accessible 3D environment populated with the real-life testimonies of those held captive, the Iran Prison Project features real-life testimony of political prisoners - many of whom are women, artists, journalists, students, LGBTQ people, and even children. Prisoners face psychological and physical torture, rape, and even execution. They are often held without due legal process and on bogus charges. People have been arrested for ordinary acts of everyday life that are deemed illegal under the totalitarian regime’s interpretation of Islamic law – for example dancing or singing in public, showing hair, or expressing any dissent. Evin Prison in Tehran holds over 15,000 people, mostly political prisoners who have spoken out against the regime over the past 44 years. The goal of the project is to bring awareness to the rest of the world. We ask people to bear witness to the horrors that tens of thousands of innocent Iranians have experienced firsthand by “visiting” the Iran Prison Project in the metaverse. The experience is a digital interpretation of the prison, which includes verified testimonies from real people who have been imprisoned. The project uses interactive art and voice actors and original artwork from artists affected by Iranian prisons to convey harrowing stories and experiences. IDC believes that increased attention from Western audiences and the media on the treatment of political prisoners in Iran can pressure the Iranian government to release people from captivity and reduce death sentences. Iranian Diaspora Collective is an organisation of visionary agents for social change who understand the power of social influence, storytelling, and youth-led activism as key tools for cultural revolution. As members of the diaspora, they see their role as listening to and amplifying the voices of people inside Iran who want an end to this dictatorial regime and the establishment of a secular, democratic system of governance that respects women’s rights as human rights, freedom of movement and expression, and protects the environment and Iran’s resources.