Cairo: At least nine people were injured in a massive fire that broke out at a notorious prison for political prisoners and anti-government activists in Iran’s capital, but was extinguished after several hours and none of the detainees escaped, state media reported on Sunday. Said to
Flames and smoke rising from Tehran Evin Gel Saturday evening was widely visible, as nationwide anti-government protests, triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody, entered its fifth week. In online videos, gunfire and explosions could be heard in the prison area.
State media said the fire broke out after a fight between inmates was in an apparent attempt to distance the incidents there from the ongoing protests. Hundreds are being held in Evin, where human rights groups have repeatedly reported abuse of prisoners.
State TV on Sunday broadcast video after the fire, which showed burnt walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop in the prison.
“The fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners at a sewing workshop,” said Mohsin Mansouri of the Tehran government. “The workshop was set up to create jobs” for the prisoners, he said.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted a senior security official as saying on Saturday that clashes broke out between inmates and prison personnel in a ward. The inmates set a godown filled with prison uniforms on fire, the official said. He said the “rioters” were separated from other prisoners to defuse the conflict.
The official said the situation is completely under control and firefighters are dousing the blaze. Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that peace had returned to the prison and that the unrest had nothing to do with the protests that have raged across the country for four weeks.
IRNA later reported that nine people were injured, without elaborating. It published video showing burnt rubble scattered around a building, with firefighters spraying embers of the fire.
The relatives of prisoners gathered near the jail on Sunday in anticipation of news of their loved ones being inside.
Masumeh, 49, who gave only his maiden name, said his 19-year-old son was taken to jail two weeks ago after participating in street protests. “I can’t trust the news about his health, I need to watch him closely,” she said.
Another man, Reza, who also gave only his first name, said his brother Evin has been in prison since last year, when he was involved in a violent feud. “He hasn’t called us in recent days and after last night’s fire, I’m here to find out what happened to him,” he said.
The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran said an “armed conflict” broke out inside the prison walls. It said that gunshots were first heard in Ward 7 of the jail. This account could not be immediately confirmed.
Footage of the fire was circulated online. It is shown in the video that shots were being played as smoke rose in the sky amid the sounding of the alarm. Soon after, a street protest broke out, with many chanting “Death to the dictator!” were shouting slogans. – A reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – and burning tyres, is shown in the video.
The semi-official Fars news agency, considered close to the elite Islamic Revolutionary GuardSome prisoners were trying to escape and entered a mine located in the northern part of the prison, it said on Sunday. “It is said that the sound of the explosions was related to the case,” the report said, giving no additional details.
Witnesses said police blocked roads and highways leading to Evin and that at least three loud explosions were heard from the area. Traffic was heavy on major highways near the prison, located north of the capital, and many people paid respects to show their solidarity with the protest.
Riot police were seen riding motorcycles toward the facility, as were ambulances and firetrucks. Witnesses said the internet was switched off in the area.
Prison fires broke out as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations on main streets and universities in some Iranian cities on Saturday. Human rights monitors reported hundreds of deaths, including children, as the fourth week of the movement came to an end.
The protests erupted after public outcry over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran’s ethics police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Iran’s government says Amini was not abused in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beatings after being taken into custody.
On Sunday, Iran’s parliament published a statement claiming that Amini did not die of physical trauma, but collapsed and that police waited too long to get her treatment. It urged the police to apologize and provide more training to its employees. It suggested that police put cameras on their uniforms and install them in cars used to transfer detainees.
President Joe BidenOn a visit to Oregon, he said the Iranian “government is so oppressive” and that he had “a lot of respect for the people who marched in the streets”.
Evin Prison, which houses detainees facing security-related charges and contains dual citizens, has been accused by rights groups of mistreating prisoners. The facility has long been known to house political prisoners, as well as those with ties to the West, who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.
Flames and smoke rising from Tehran Evin Gel Saturday evening was widely visible, as nationwide anti-government protests, triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody, entered its fifth week. In online videos, gunfire and explosions could be heard in the prison area.
State media said the fire broke out after a fight between inmates was in an apparent attempt to distance the incidents there from the ongoing protests. Hundreds are being held in Evin, where human rights groups have repeatedly reported abuse of prisoners.
State TV on Sunday broadcast video after the fire, which showed burnt walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop in the prison.
“The fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners at a sewing workshop,” said Mohsin Mansouri of the Tehran government. “The workshop was set up to create jobs” for the prisoners, he said.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted a senior security official as saying on Saturday that clashes broke out between inmates and prison personnel in a ward. The inmates set a godown filled with prison uniforms on fire, the official said. He said the “rioters” were separated from other prisoners to defuse the conflict.
The official said the situation is completely under control and firefighters are dousing the blaze. Later, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said that peace had returned to the prison and that the unrest had nothing to do with the protests that have raged across the country for four weeks.
IRNA later reported that nine people were injured, without elaborating. It published video showing burnt rubble scattered around a building, with firefighters spraying embers of the fire.
The relatives of prisoners gathered near the jail on Sunday in anticipation of news of their loved ones being inside.
Masumeh, 49, who gave only his maiden name, said his 19-year-old son was taken to jail two weeks ago after participating in street protests. “I can’t trust the news about his health, I need to watch him closely,” she said.
Another man, Reza, who also gave only his first name, said his brother Evin has been in prison since last year, when he was involved in a violent feud. “He hasn’t called us in recent days and after last night’s fire, I’m here to find out what happened to him,” he said.
The US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran said an “armed conflict” broke out inside the prison walls. It said that gunshots were first heard in Ward 7 of the jail. This account could not be immediately confirmed.
Footage of the fire was circulated online. It is shown in the video that shots were being played as smoke rose in the sky amid the sounding of the alarm. Soon after, a street protest broke out, with many chanting “Death to the dictator!” were shouting slogans. – A reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – and burning tyres, is shown in the video.
The semi-official Fars news agency, considered close to the elite Islamic Revolutionary GuardSome prisoners were trying to escape and entered a mine located in the northern part of the prison, it said on Sunday. “It is said that the sound of the explosions was related to the case,” the report said, giving no additional details.
Witnesses said police blocked roads and highways leading to Evin and that at least three loud explosions were heard from the area. Traffic was heavy on major highways near the prison, located north of the capital, and many people paid respects to show their solidarity with the protest.
Riot police were seen riding motorcycles toward the facility, as were ambulances and firetrucks. Witnesses said the internet was switched off in the area.
Prison fires broke out as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations on main streets and universities in some Iranian cities on Saturday. Human rights monitors reported hundreds of deaths, including children, as the fourth week of the movement came to an end.
The protests erupted after public outcry over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran’s ethics police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Iran’s government says Amini was not abused in police custody, but her family says her body showed bruises and other signs of beatings after being taken into custody.
On Sunday, Iran’s parliament published a statement claiming that Amini did not die of physical trauma, but collapsed and that police waited too long to get her treatment. It urged the police to apologize and provide more training to its employees. It suggested that police put cameras on their uniforms and install them in cars used to transfer detainees.
President Joe BidenOn a visit to Oregon, he said the Iranian “government is so oppressive” and that he had “a lot of respect for the people who marched in the streets”.
Evin Prison, which houses detainees facing security-related charges and contains dual citizens, has been accused by rights groups of mistreating prisoners. The facility has long been known to house political prisoners, as well as those with ties to the West, who have been used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations.