CNN
—
At least eight people have been injured in a fire at Evin prison in northern Tehran, Iranian state media IRNA reported. Several videos on social media on Saturday night showed a large, dark plume of smoke near the jail.
The fire has been contained and “peace is being maintained,” Tehran’s governor Mohsen Mansouri told IRNA, adding that the fire was started by prisoners. Tehran’s Evin Prison is a brutal regime prison for political dissidents.
“Now the situation in the jail is completely under control and peace is maintained in the jail premises and the streets around the jail are monitored and controlled,” Mansoori said.
An Iranian security official said “thugs” set fire to a warehouse of prison uniforms. IRNA reported earlier.
Activist group 1500tasvir reported that gunshots were heard in videos posted on social media and Iranian special forces were seen moving to the area where the prison is believed to be located.
The Iranian official said the “rioters” were separated from other prisoners and other prisoners returned to their cells, IRNA reported.
CNN could not independently verify the situation.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International responded on Twitter to social media videos reminding Iranian authorities of their legal obligation to respect and protect the lives of prisoners following the fire.
Callamard noted that the prison was “glorious” and retweeted a post by journalist Jason Resian, whose “544 Days” podcast chronicled his time incarcerated.
“Evin is no ordinary prison. Many of Iran’s best and brightest have spent long periods there, where brave women and men are denied the basic rights to speak truth to power,” Rezayan said. wrote. “Now the regime is responsible for what happens to those inside.”
Meanwhile, cities across Iran are under siege Nationwide protest movementFollowing the death of a young woman in police custody, women and women-led s.
In September, 22-year-old Mahza Amini died after being detained by the country’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly. Iranian authorities have unleashed a brutal crackdown on protesters, who have united a range of grievances with the country’s authoritarian regime.
Witnesses earlier said Iranian security forces They beat, shot and detained Students of Tehran Sharif University. Last month, nearly two dozen children were killed during the protests Report of Amnesty International.
At least 23 children — some as young as 11 — were killed by security forces in the last 10 days of September alone. The report said.
Earlier this week, an Iranian official And agreed School students who engage in street protests are detained and taken to psychiatric hospitals.
