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.
Details still remain scarce over the fire at Evin prison, which broke out on Saturday night (local time) as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered a fifth week.
The latest death toll was provided by the judiciary’s Mizan news agency, which reported that the detainees had passed away from their wounds Sunday (local time) due to the incident.
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 sceptical of its claims.
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 fire.
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.
Authorities have attempted to distance the events at the prison from the ongoing protests, while state media has offered conflicting accounts of the violence. At Evin, where hundreds are detained, human rights organisations 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.
On a weekend vacation to Oregon, President Joe Biden remarked that the Iranian “regime is so oppressive” and that he had “enormous sympathy for people walking in the streets.” ”
Evin Prison, which holds detainees facing security-related charges and includes dual citizens, has been charged by rights groups with abusing inmates.
The jail has a lengthy history of housing political detainees as well as Western-affiliated inmates who have served as Iran’s negotiating chips in international talks.
8 prisoners have now died in an Iranian prison fire.
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