At least eight inmates have died after a fire broke out at a notorious prison in Tehran, Iran’s justice ministry said.
The Evin . Prison Fire broke out on Saturday night as nationwide anti-government protests were sparked by the death of a 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody entering their fifth week.
The judiciary’s Mizan news agency raised the death toll from four, saying inmates died of their injuries on Sunday.
It said those killed had been detained for theft. Evin also holds political prisoners and detainees who face security charges, including dual Iranian nationals.
Mizan described the incident as a “war between prisoners and a fire”, although offered no supporting evidence.
State media said the first four people died from smoke inhalation and more than 60 were injured.
A commentary in Iran’s state-run newspaper said counter-revolutionary forces planned to open fire with the help of foreign intelligence agencies to draw international attention to the unrest. in this country.
“Considering different aspects of this event shows that due to the presence of ‘spies’ or ‘spies’ of these two countries who are citizens of Western countries, this will appeal to sentiments of those countries, inciting the protesters,” the newspaper said.
Smoke rises from a prison, in the capital Tehran Pic: Twitter / IanBremner
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Flames and thick smoke could be seen rising from the prison in the capital on Saturday night.
In the online videos, gunfire and explosions can be heard in the prison area.
State media said the fire was extinguished after a few hours and no detainees escaped.
Authorities tried to create space between events in the prison and the ongoing protests, while state media provided conflicting accounts of the violence.
Human rights groups have accused inmates of repeated abuse in prison.
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Why are the Iranians protesting?
A ‘circle of hell’
It usually holds prisoners of dual nationality, including those who have now been freed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori.
Mr. Ashoori previously revealed his struggle to survive during his five years in Evin prison for a crime he did not commit.
He described the prison as a “circle of hell”, saying he had to beg guards for basic needs like using the restroom.
He said he was questioned “day after day from eight in the morning to 10 or 11 at night”, when his captors threatened his family, showed him photos of his wife and children and warned him to never see them again.
