At least eight people were injured on Sunday during a fire and clashes at Tehran’s main prison, where political prisoners are being held, Iranian media officials reported.
“There were no fatalities in this accident and eight injuries were reported,” a security services source told state news agency IRNA.
According to the same official, several prisoners set fire to the clothing store, causing a fire and clashes between the detainees and the staff of the Evin prison, where political prisoners are also held.
“The situation is fully under control and peace is maintained in the prison,” added the same source.
The Mizan news agency, dependent on the Judiciary, spread a similar version and added that “the fire was contained and extinguished” completely.
“The police helped to quickly establish peace in Evin,” said this agency, stressing that the incident was initiated by common criminal prisoners.
“The riot was controlled,” he added.
For its part, the reformist daily Shargh reported that there were explosions inside the prison and that the roads near the establishment were closed by the police.
Activists posted videos from the prison on social media showing a huge fire and hearing gunshots and explosions. Cries of “death to the dictator” were also echoed, referring to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
The Evin prison, located west of Tehran, covers an area of 40 hectares and some of its modules are controlled by the judiciary, while others depend on the Ministry of Information and the intelligence services of the Revolutionary Guard, the force regime elite. .
Several human rights organizations frequently denounce the practice of torture in this prison, where there are many detainees considered political prisoners, as well as inmates with dual nationality.
The incidents at Evin prison coincide with protests sparked by the death of Masha Amini, 22, on September 16, after being detained by Tehran customs police for incorrectly wearing the Islamic headscarf, which is compulsory for women.
After the death of the young Kurdish man, with contradictory versions, protests broke out in many cities of the country, led mainly by young people and that today continue despite the strong repression of the security forces.
Iranian activists have called for new anti-government demonstrations across Iran today, a month after the start of the protest movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
The Oslo-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Iran Human Rights reports 108 deaths, including 23 minors, since the start of the protests.
Many of the thousands arrested in the protests are currently in Evin.
Source: TSF
