As widespread protests continue, Iran’s judiciary increased the number of fatalities in a fire at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison on Monday, stating that at least eight prisoners perished.
The fire at Evin prison, which started on Saturday night as widespread anti-government demonstrations sparked by the murder of a young woman in police detention began their fifth week, is still mostly under investigation.
The updated figure was provided by the judiciary’s Mizan news agency, which said that the detainees had died from their wounds sustained in the event on Sunday.
It stated that all of the deceased had been detained on suspicion of stealing. Mizan claimed that there was a “fight between prisoners and a fire” during the incident, although it provided no proof for that assertion. Since the Iranian government’s latest depictions of the country’s protests have significantly diverged from those on the ground, activists outside of Iran say they continue to be wary of its claims.
Read Also:Â Gunmen kidnap Labour Party senatorial candidate in Ebonyi
The semi-official Fars news agency also claimed that the number of fatalities from the fire has doubled and that six prisoners are still being treated in hospitals as a result of the flames.
The Evin Prison in Tehran was engulfed in flames and heavy smoke on Saturday night. Gunshots and explosions were audible in the vicinity of the prison on online videos.
After several hours, the fire was put out, and no prisoners were freed, according to state media.
While official media has provided various descriptions of the violence, authorities have attempted to separate the events at the prison from the continuing protests. At Evin, where hundreds are detained, human rights organizations have documented ongoing abuse of detainees.
After widespread outrage over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in police custody, protests broke out. Tehran’s morality police detained her for breaking the Islamic Republic’s stringent dress code. The Iranian government maintains that Amini was not abused while in police custody, but according to her family, when she was arrested, her body exhibited bruises and other symptoms of violence.
Read Also: It’s intriguing to watch Dogara, Babachir’s group search for different candidate
On a weekend vacation to Oregon, President Joe Biden remarked that the Iranian regime was “very oppressive” and that he had “enormous respect for people walking in the streets.”
Rights organizations have accused Evin Prison of mistreat its inmates. The prison houses dual citizens and those detained on security-related crimes. Long known for housing political prisoners and Western-affiliated detainees who were used by Iran as bargaining chips in international negotiations, the facility also houses political prisoners.
