Iran’s Evin jail set on fireplace after clashes between inmates and guards

Iran’s infamous Evin jail, which homes demonstrators arrested throughout widespread protests and political prisoners, was set on fireplace after inmates clashed with safety forces, the nation’s official media reported.

IRNA quoted an unknown safety official as saying a combat broke out in a single ward which led to clashes with jail guards.

“Villains and thugs set alight the warehouse of prisoners’ garments which precipitated a hearth in Evin jail,” the official mentioned. “The scenario is beneath thorough management now and there’s tranquility within the jail whereas firefighters are placing [out] the hearth.”

IRNA mentioned eight prisoners have been injured however there have been no deaths. Movies and footage in native media confirmed fireplace and smoke rising from the jail.

The incident comes because the Islamic republic has been fighting one of many largest and most long-lasting protests in its 43-year-old historical past.

The nationwide demonstrations have been sparked by the dying of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish lady, on September 16 following her arrest by the morality police for allegedly failing to watch the Islamic code. Many Iranians have been outraged and accused safety forces of beating her. Iranian authorities insist she was not punished and died due to pre-existing situations.

Anti-regime protests within the streets and universities continued in Tehran and different cities on Saturday. Within the capital, there was tight safety round campuses together with Tehran College, the place college students chanted “dying to the dictator”, eyewitnesses mentioned.

The elite Revolutionary Guards deployed its particular anti-riot forces outdoors the college, the primary time they’ve been seen in Tehran. Till now, safety operations have been performed primarily by the police power in addition to plain clothed guards. However Iranian officers have vowed to stamp out the protests, which they blame on the regime’s enemies together with the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

State tv has confirmed that greater than 40 protesters have died however Amnesty Worldwide has put the deaths a minimum of 144, together with 23 kids.

Whereas the demonstrations gave the impression to be diminishing in current days in comparison with per week in the past, analysts warn that additional killings might escalate the unrest.

Stories {that a} teenage schoolgirl was killed within the northwestern metropolis of Ardabil final week have precipitated recent anger. Authorities have denied the experiences.

However Ali Daei, a former soccer star from the area, mentioned silence in regards to the protests has precipitated additional violence, together with the dying of the lady in Ardabil.

“This silence is at the price of [more] deaths and on a regular basis there’s a new loss,” he mentioned in a publish on Instagram on Saturday.