The death toll rises after the fire in a prison in Tehran. At least eight inmates died and dozens more were injured in a disaster that heavily damaged Evin prison in the Iranian capital on Saturday, amid widespread protests in the country over the death of young Mahsa Amini, the Judicial Authority announced on Monday.
“Four (injured) people died in hospital after the deterioration of their state of health, bringing the death toll to eight,” said Mizan Online, the website of the Judicial Authority, in a final report, without specifying s ‘they died from smoke inhalation like the first four deaths. The deceased were all convicted of theft.
“The lying of official officials has become normal”
The authorities have accused “thugs” of having “set fire to a clothing warehouse on Saturday evening” in this infamous detention center, where foreigners are imprisoned. Clashes took place between prisoners and then between detainees and guards who intervened to put an end to the violence. The situation is “back to normal”, they assured.
Images broadcast on local media had shown huge flames and thick smoke emerging from the vast complex on the evening of the fire. Iran’s official Irna news agency said the incidents had ‘nothing to do’ with protests following the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini that have entered their fifth week despite a crackdown that has left at least 108 people dead, according to Iran. Human Rights (IHR). NGOs have questioned the authorities’ version.
“Given how normal lying by official officials has become, we do not accept official explanations,” said the Oslo-based IHR, saying it had received reports that guards had sought to abet prisoners.
Ill-treatment of detainees
In videos posted on social media, gunshots and the sound of explosions were heard the evening of the fire outside the prison, known for its mistreatment of political detainees. Hundreds of people arrested during protests over the death of Mahsa Amini have reportedly been sent to Evin.
After the fire, several NGOs as well as the United States expressed concern for the prisoners, but several foreign detainees were able to contact their families. Among the foreign detainees are the Franco-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah and the American Siamak Namazi, who are safe. The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell has asked for “maximum transparency” from the Iranian authorities, as the European Union prepares to impose sanctions on Iran on Monday.
For its part, France has indicated that it is following “with the greatest attention” the fate of the French “arbitrarily detained” in the Iranian prison of Evin, in Tehran, according to a press release from the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.