Death toll rises after prison fire in Tehran – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

On Saturday evening, shots and explosions could be heard from the notorious prison in the Iranian capital. Open flames and smoke could be seen in the darkness of the night. Iranian authorities initially claimed that four people died in the fire. Now the official death toll has doubled: Eight people died and at least 60 were injured, say the authorities. In addition, photos show that large parts of the institution have collapsed, burned down or been hollowed out by the flames. It is the Iranian Ministry of Justice that has itself shared these images. – The death toll is certainly much higher, says the Norwegian group Iran Human Rights at the same time. – Long history of hiding the facts According to the authorities, the fire started in a workshop and clothing warehouse for inmates in the prison. They blame riots and clashes within the prison. They also deny that there is any link between the fire and the ongoing wave of protests in the country. A warehouse and workshop inside Evin prison Photo: WANA NEWS AGENCY / Reuters – The fire is a criminal act committed by elements linked to the enemy, says Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, who is a justice in Iran’s Supreme Court. Oslo-based Iran Human Rights, on the other hand, says that it rejects this official explanation. – The authorities have a long history of hiding facts and killing inmates, writes the group. On Sunday, Iranian state TV reported that at least 40 prisoners died in the fire. This number was corrected just minutes later, but helped to create even more confusion about the situation. The death toll has risen after the fire at the weekend. Photo: Koosha Mahshid Falahi / Mizan News Agency via AP Political prisoners in the prison Many political prisoners and regime critics are held in Evin. At the same time, there have been nationwide demonstrations against the regime in Iran in the past month. Reports indicate that hundreds of those arrested during the protests have been sent to Evin. Iranians with dual citizenship also serve their sentences in this prison. Among them are the French-Iranian university professor Fariba Abdelkah, and the American-Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi. The protests of the last month are described by several as one of the most extensive threats against the clergy in Iran since they took power in the country in 1979. Many political prisoners are held in the Evin prison in Tehran. Photo: KOOSHA MAHSHID FALAHI / MIZAN / AFP



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