Fire erupts at Iran’s notorious Evin prison
A blaze erupted at Iran’s notorious Evin prison which holds political prisoners, journalists and foreign nationals as shots and explosions were heard on Saturday.
Videos shared online showed flames and smoke at the site in Tehran. Gunshots and explosions were also audible in several videos.
In some videos, people could be heard outside the prison chanting “death to the dictator” – one of the main slogans of the anti-government protest movement.
An official quoted by state media said the situation was under control, but video footage appeared to show the fire continuing after this.
Reports say state officials blame “criminal elements” for the fire in which eight people were injured.
Speaking from inside the prison, Tehran’s governor told state TV that there was a riot in a wing of the prison housing petty criminals, and the situation was now completely calm.
Pictures showed inmates on the roof of a section of the prison where political prisoners and many of the protestors who have been arrested in the past four weeks are kept, Kasra said.
The families of some prisoners said they were unable to contact their relatives on the phone, which they would normally be able to do, and that internet connection around the prison appeared to have been cut off.
British-Iranian dual nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were both held at Evin prison for several years on spying charges, which they denied, before their release earlier this year.
The prison has long been criticised by Western rights groups.
Also Read: Iran insists prisoner swap deal was agreed with US
Human Rights Watch has accused authorities at the prison of using threats of torture and of indefinite imprisonment, as well as lengthy interrogations and denial of medical care for detainees.
A group of hackers calling themselves Edalat-e Ali (Ali’s Justice) posted videos in August last year of leaked surveillance footage from Evin prison showing guards beating or mistreating inmates.
Some foreign governments whose citizens are being held in the prison have expressed concern.
A spokesperson for the US state department said it was following events with “urgency”, while the UK Government’s security minister called it a “very worrying development”.
Iran has been gripped for weeks by anti-government protests.
They first erupted last month after the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Officials said she died of a heart attack, but her family disputed this, saying she was beaten by morality police.
Zainab Sa’id
