Four prisoners dead & over 60 injured after massive fire breaks out at Iran's Evin prison

Four prisoners lost ir lives while 61 sustained injuries a massive fire broke at Tehran's Evin prison amidst  ongoing demonstrations in Iran over tragic demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, Sky News reported. Political prisoners and anti-government activists and criminal convicts are held in Evin jail. According to Iran's state-run IRNA, clashes between a number of prisoners set off fire.  fights and disturbances that broke out in prison wards caused fire in prison's clothing storehouse. 

As nationwide anti-government demonstrations sparked by killing of young Iranian woman in moral police custody entered  fifth week, flames and huge columns of smoke were seen rising from Tehran's Evin Prison. Gunshots and explosions were also heard in vicinity of prison on online videos. 

Iran says Evin unrest not linked to countrywide protests

According to a senior security official quoted by Iran's state-run IRNA, re were fights between detainees in one ward and prison guards. official claimed that inmates started blaze by setting a warehouse full of prison clos on fire. He said that in order to defuse situation, "rioters" were removed from or detainees.  Governor of Tehran, Mohsen Mansouri said, “This fire was caused by a fight between some prisoners in a sewing workshop," Associated Press reported. " workshop was set up to create jobs” for prisoners, he ded. 

Meanwhile, official media agency claimed that conflicts that occurred within Evin Prison on Saturday h nothing to do with ongoing turmoil in nation. 

Anti-hijab protests enter fifth week

This incident took place at a time when Iran is experiencing its most severe unrest in deces. demonstrations began following Mahsa Amini's death in September after being imprisoned by nation's morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly. Since n, Iranian authorities have launched a harsh crackdown on protesters, who have joined toger to voice complaints about dictatorial government re. 

According to reports, Evin has received hundreds of individuals who were imprisoned during protests. Notably, rights organisations have accused Evin Prison of abusing its inmates. prison houses dual citizens and those detained on security-related crimes. 

(Image: Twitter/ @chawshin_83)