Iranian state tv aired a video apparently displaying that calm had returned to Tehran’s Evin prison on Sunday after a fireplace broke on the market in a single day, as unrest sparked by Mahsa Amini’s dying in police custody final month continued.
State media mentioned the hearth at the prison, notorious for housing political prisoners and anti-government activists, was extinguished after a number of hours and no detainees escaped.
Iranian authorities mentioned a stitching workshop had been set on fireplace “after a combat amongst quite a few prisoners convicted of economic crimes and theft.” Evin holds many detainees going through safety fees, together with Iranians with twin nationality.
Asked in regards to the prison fireplace, U.S. President Joe Biden instructed reporters throughout a marketing campaign journey on Saturday to Portland, Ore., that the Iranian authorities was “so oppressive” and that he was stunned by the braveness of the Iranian protesters.
Iran’s international ministry mentioned Biden had interfered in state issues by displaying help for the anti-government protests. The authorities have responded with a brutal crackdown.
At least 240 killed in protests, rights teams say
Rights teams mentioned at least 240 protesters had been killed within the anti-government protests, together with 32 minors. Over 8,000 individuals had been arrested in 111 cities and cities, Iranian activist information company HRANA mentioned on Saturday.
Among the casualties have been teenage ladies whose deaths have grow to be a rallying cry for extra demonstrations throughout the nation.
Iran, which has blamed the violence on enemies at dwelling and overseas, deny safety forces have killed protesters. State media mentioned on Saturday at least 26 members of the safety forces had been killed by “rioters.”
The protests have attracted worldwide condemnation, with the United States, Canada and a few European international locations imposing sanctions on Iranian officers and organizations “concerned within the clampdown on protesters.”
“On Saturday … Biden interfered in Iran’s state issues by supporting the riots … In latest days, the U.S. administration has tried desperately to inflame unrest in Iran underneath numerous excuses,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani mentioned, ISNA reported.
The footage of Evin aired on state tv confirmed firefighters inspecting the workshop with fireplace harm to the roof. It additionally confirmed inmates of their wards apparently “sleeping as calm has been restored.”
Prison lengthy criticized
State information company IRNA mentioned on Saturday eight individuals had been injured within the fireplace at the prison. But the semi-official Fars information company reported on Sunday that “no actual official determine of these injured or potential casualties have been printed but.”
Video obtained by Reuters confirmed protesters marching amongst visitors towards the prison on Saturday night time and into Sunday morning.
The prison, which holds legal convicts in addition to political detainees, has lengthy been criticized by Western rights teams and was blacklisted by the U.S. authorities in 2018 for “critical human rights abuses.”
The protests mark one of many boldest challenges to clerical rule because the 1979 revolution, with demonstrations spreading throughout the nation and widespread requires the downfall the Islamic Republic, even when the unrest doesn’t appear near toppling the system.