Mahsa Amini: Massive fires and shootings in “Evin prison” for political prisoners in Tehran

Protests first erupted in several Iranian cities last month after the death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish Mahsa Amini while in police custody for allegedly violating headscarf rules.

Officials say she died of a medical condition she suffered from, but her family says she died after being beaten by the moral police.

But police said there was no evidence of any mistreatment and that he had suffered from “sudden heart failure”.

A video clip showed Amini lying on the ground in the police station, with no one exposed to her.

Iranian leaders believe that the demonstrations are supported by European countries and the United States, hostile to the regime of the Islamic Republic.

US President Joe Biden called on Iranian leaders to stop what he called violence against the Iranian people and said: “Iran must stop violence against its citizens, who are exercising their fundamental rights.”

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman held an online meeting with representatives of major technology companies on Wednesday to discuss support for the free flow of information to the Iranian people.

Hundreds of people arrested during the protests were reportedly sent to Evin Prison.

Rana Rahimpour of the BBC says we don’t yet know if the situation in the prison is related to the recent demonstrations, but it could easily be that hundreds of protesters have been sent to Evin.

The Iranian media reported that the riots were initiated by financial and criminal prisoners and that no political prisoners were involved. He added that the fire broke out in a prison workshop, which was being extinguished and that the rioters were separated from the other prisoners, he added that there are no reports of deaths, while eight were injured.

The anti-government group Film 1500 has published online the videos of the fire, in the background chants of “Death to the dictator” can be heard.

The BBC added that another video posted on social media showed objects fired at the prison from outside its surroundings, and then an explosion was heard, according to the BBC.

State news agency IRNA said inmates in one of the wards set fire to one of the prison’s warehouses.

The news agency also reported that the riots that led to the fire were over and quoted an unnamed official who said riots broke out between inmates and guards in the section of the prison where the “thugs” are being held.

“The situation is under full control at the moment,” IRNA said, citing the source.

Riot police were seen entering the prison and state media reported the presence of firefighters at the site.

The security forces also reportedly closed the roads leading to the prison.

“The families of the prisoners gathered at the front door,” an eyewitness told Reuters news agency.

“I see fire and smoke. Lots of special forces. There are also ambulances,” he added.

In addition to political prisoners in Evin prison, journalists and many dual citizens and foreigners are detained.

The prison has long been criticized by Western rights groups. Human Rights Watch accused prison authorities of using threats of torture and indefinite imprisonment, as well as lengthy interrogations and refusal of medical treatment for detainees.

A hacker group calling itself “Adala Ali” released videos in August last year, including surveillance footage leaked from Evin Prison showing guards beating or mistreating inmates.

The Iranian news agency of human rights activists estimates that at least 222 people were killed during large-scale demonstrations that erupted after death.