Evin: At least eight dead after fire at notorious Iranian prison

At least eight people have been killed in the prison fire in Iran, as Geraint Vincent reports

Iran's judiciary raised the death toll on Monday in a blaze after a blaze at Tehran's notorious Evin prison, saying that at least eight prisoners were killed as protests continue nationwide.

The semi-official Fars news agency also reported that the death toll from the blaze has doubled, and said six inmates remain hospitalised following the fire.

Details still remain scarce over the fire at Evin prison, which broke out on Saturday night as nationwide anti-government protests triggered by the death of a young woman in police custody entered a fifth week.

In online videos, gunshots and explosions could be heard in the area of the prison.

State media said the fire broke out after a fight between prisoners, in an apparent attempt to distance the events at the facility from the ongoing protests.

Hundreds of protestors are being held at Evin, where human rights groups have reported repeated abuses of prisoners.

State media originally said nine people were injured but the Judiciary website Mizan.news on Sunday said four inmates died of smoke inhalation and 61 others were injured. It said all four who died were in prison on robbery convictions.

Ten inmates were hospitalised, with four of them in serious condition, Mizan reported. It said some prisoners had tried to escape but failed.

On Sunday, state TV aired video of the fire’s aftermath, showing scorched walls and ceilings in a room it said was the upper floor of a sewing workshop at the prison.

“This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop,” said Tehran governor Mohsen Mansouri. “The workshop was set up to create jobs” for prisoners, he said.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency earlier reported that there were clashes between prisoners in one ward and prison personnel, citing a senior security official.

The official said prisoners set fire to a warehouse full of prison uniforms, which caused the blaze. He said the “rioters” were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the conflict.

The US-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran reported that an “armed conflict” broke out within the prison walls.

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Footage of the fire circulated online. Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm. A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting “Death to the Dictator!” - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - and burning tires, the videos showed.

Witnesses said that police blocked roads and highways to Evin and that at least three strong explosions were heard coming from the area. Traffic was heavy along major freeways near the prison, which is in the north of the capital, and many people honked to show their solidarity with protests. Riot police were seen riding on motorbikes toward the facility, as were ambulances and firetrucks. Witnesses reported that the internet was blocked in the area.

British-Iranian duals nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were previously incarcerated at the notorious Evin prison. They were both held on spying charges, which they both denied.

They were jailed for six years and five years respectively, and were released in March of this year.

Families of inmates gathered on Sunday near the prison hoping for news of their loved ones inside.

Masoumeh, 49, who only gave her first name, said her 19-year-old son was taken to the prison two weeks ago after taking part in the street protests. “I cannot trust news about his health, I need to see him closely,” she said.

Another man, Reza, who also gave only his first name, said his brother has been in Evin Prison since last year after he was involved in a violent quarrel. “He did not call us in recent days and following last night’s fire I am here to learn what happened to him,” he said.

The prison fire occurred as protesters intensified anti-government demonstrations along main streets and at universities in some cities across Iran on Saturday. Human rights monitors reported hundreds dead, including children, as the movement concluded its fourth week.

The protests erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. She was arrested by Iran’s morality police in Tehran for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

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