Fire and shots in Tehran |
Fire in notorious mullah prison
There is apparently a fire in the Evin prison in the Iranian capital Tehran, which is notorious for its catastrophic prison conditions.
︎ A high cloud of smoke can be seen on videos shared on social media. Shots can also be heard repeatedly in the background. Alarm sirens also howl.
A prison tower of Evin Prison, completely engulfed in smoke
An unnamed government official told the state news agency Irna that unrest among “thugs” led to the fire.
According to observers, after the fire started, a column of security forces loyal to the mullahs made their way to the prison, which is particularly well-known for imprisoning opponents of the regime. It is located on the northern outskirts of Tehran.
Originally designed for 320 inmates, a total of 2,575 men and 375 women were held there in 2006, according to the prison administration. After the waves of arrests in recent years, but also in the context of the current protests, the number of political prisoners incarcerated there is likely to be significantly higher.
As the English-language broadcaster “Iran International” reports with reference to eyewitnesses, the fire in the prison continues to spread. “The prisoners broke down the doors to get out of their smoke-filled sections and the security forces used tear gas,” the broadcaster wrote on Twitter.
From 9 p.m. (7.30 p.m. German time) there were clashes in the prison. The prison guards repeatedly shot inmates. The police have completely closed the main thoroughfare Yadegar, which leads to the prison.
︎ Iran International further reports that families of prisoners have gathered in front of the prison and are shouting “Death to the dictator” – a slogan that is also being shouted again and again during the current nationwide protests.
It is currently unclear whether the current situation on and in Evin prison is related to the protests.
The death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini (22) sparked mass protests across the country. The Kurdish ethnic minority has suffered discrimination and oppression since the Islamic Revolution (1979). That is why the protests, especially in the Kurdish regions, have become more massive every day.
But there were also protests every day in the capital Tehran.
Background of the protests: On September 16, Jina Mahsa Amini was beaten to death by the Iranian “moral police” in Tehran. The accusation: she did not wear the headscarf prescribed by the mullahs’ regime in accordance with strict religious laws.