Tehran’s Evin prison fire death toll climbs to eight
Tehran, Oct 17 (EFE).- Another four people have died after a fire broke out amid clashes at Tehran’s Evin prison, taking the death toll to eight, official media reported Monday.
On Saturday night, gunshots and a series of explosions were heard at the facility housing political prisoners and anti-government activists.
Authorities said that inmates set fire to a warehouse of clothing, which led to clashes between prisoners and prison officials.
On Sunday, media reported that four people had died due to “smoke inhalation” and another 61 had been injured, of which 10 were hospitalized, four of them in critical condition.
Those four died on Sunday evening taking the total number of deaths to eight, the judiciary’s news agency Mizan reported on Monday.
The condition of the remaining six people admitted to hospital is “favorable and improving,” it added.
All eight victims were inmates jailed for theft and their families have been informed, according to Mizan.
Evin prison, a 40-hectare compound, is known for being used to detain political prisoners, journalists and dual nationals, and has been condemned by human rights groups for its harsh conditions and alleged torture.
The incident in the prison came amid nationwide protests that have rocked Iran for the past month over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody on Sep. 16 after she was detained for not wearing the hijab correctly.
Since then, the women-led protests have taken place in cities throughout the Islamic republic and have spread to universities and even high schools, with security forces cracking down on the unrest.
Many of those arrested in the demonstrations are jailed at Evin. EFE
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