At least eight prisoners have been killed after a hearth broke out at a infamous jail in Tehran, Iran’s judiciary has mentioned.
The blaze at Evin jail broke out on Saturday night time as nationwide anti-government protests sparked by the dying of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody entered their fifth week.
The judiciary’s Mizan information company raised the dying toll from 4, saying the prisoners had died from their accidents on Sunday.
It mentioned these killed had been held on theft prices. Evin additionally holds political prisoners and detainees going through safety prices, together with Iranians with twin nationality.
Mizan described the incident as a “fight between inmates and a fire,” although supplied no supporting proof.
State media mentioned the primary 4 deaths have been because of smoke inhalation and greater than 60 had been injured.
Commentary in state newspaper Iran mentioned counter-revolutionary forces deliberate the hearth with the assistance of overseas intelligence providers to maintain worldwide consideration on unrest within the nation.
“A review of its different dimensions of this event indicates due to the presence of these dual-national ‘spies’ or ‘spies’ who are citizens of western countries, this would attract sensitivity of those countries, igniting the protesters,” the newspaper mentioned.
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Flames and thick smoke could possibly be seen rising from the jail within the capital metropolis on Saturday night time.
In on-line movies, gunshots and explosions could possibly be heard within the space of the jail.
State media mentioned the blaze was extinguished after a number of hours and no detainees escaped.
Authorities have tried to place area between the occasions within the jail and the continued protests, whereas state media has supplied conflicting accounts of the violence.
Human rights teams have alleged prisoners have been repeatedly abused within the jail.
A ‘circle of hell’
It typically holds prisoners with twin nationality, together with the now freed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori.
Mr Ashoori beforehand revealed his battle to outlive throughout 5 years in Evin jail for a criminal offense he didn’t commit.
He described the jail as a “circle of hell”, saying he needed to beg guards for primary wants akin to utilizing the bathroom.
He mentioned he was interrogated “day after day from eight in the morning right to 10 or 11 in the evening”, as his captors made threats towards his household, exhibiting him photos of his spouse and youngsters and warning he would by no means see them once more.
Source: information.sky.com”