Shocking images have come to light from events that took place over this past weekend in which a notorious prison in Iran, inside which the country detained its political enemies, erupted into flames in the wake of an explosion followed by the sound of gunshots ringing out through the air.
The explosion of violence took place in the wake of the Islamic Republic dealing with multiple weeks of rioting as a form of backlash against the established authoritarian regime as a result of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini back in September after she had been arrested for going out in violation of the laws in the country concerning women being forced to wear Hijab. Reports have claimed that she died as the result of being brutally beaten by police officials.
Currently, it is still unknown just how many people have been murdered in the response to the protests coming from the Islamic Republic, but some reports have claimed that the number sits at well over 200.
The fire blazed through Evin Prison this past Saturday, leading to an extremely chaotic situation in the area as video evidence making its way to the internet highlighted people seemingly trying to speed toward the prison during the chaos.
The state-owned media, which highlighted and otherwise promoted the regime’s propaganda, made the claim that a total of four prisoners perished in the fire and over 61 others were injured. Despite these claims, various sources expressed to the BBC that the actual casualties are, in fact, much higher.
Authorities in the country have made the claim that there had been extreme unrest among the prisoners that had been convicted of theft and financial crimes, leading to a firing being lit within a prison workshop.
It was highlighted by the New York Times that the extremely brutal prison houses quite a few American citizens, activists, lawyers, scholars, prominent political opposition, dissidents, and many more.
Some reports of the incident are included below:
A large, dark plume of smoke is seen billowing near Evin prison in northern Tehran & gunshots are heard in multiple social media videos shared online Saturday night.
CNN’s @JomanaCNN reporting on the latest #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/Zk6Epa1dGI— Artemis Moshtaghian (@ArtemisChats) October 15, 2022
We don’t know yet who started the fire now in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, but we know the murderous Ayatollah regime is burning to the ground. pic.twitter.com/6lQ8RGGZ9E
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) October 15, 2022
Video said to show a pretty big fire at Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Iranian media reporting the same. No comment from the city's fire department yet.pic.twitter.com/O60cOlPwC4
— Kian Sharifi (@KianSharifi) October 15, 2022
The infamous Evin prison in Tehran is on fire. Gunfire heard. This is big. pic.twitter.com/oC0coITH6B
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) October 15, 2022
Ned Price, a spokesman for the State Department, claimed that officials are watching the situation and that Iran will be made to release all wrongfully detained prisoners.
“We are following reports from Evin Prison with urgency,” he expressed via social media. “We are in contact with the Swiss as our protecting power. Iran is fully responsible for the safety of our wrongfully detained citizens, who should be released immediately.”
President Joe Biden (D) was questioned concerning the incident this past Saturday, to which he answered by labeling the government of Iran “oppressive,” adding that they are “not a good group.”
One columnist that spent a sting of almost two years within that prison, Jason Rezaianm stated via social media: “Evin is no ordinary prison.”
“Many of Iran’s best & brightest have spent long stretches confined there, where brave women & men are denied their basic rights for speaking truth to power. The regime is responsible for what happens to those inside right now,” he stated. “It may feel that the events in Iran are happening very far away. Multiple American citizens, and citizens of many of our allied nations are currently being held hostage in Evin, alongside Iranian activists, intellectuals, journalists, artists, scientists and so many others.”
It may feel that the events in Iran are happening very far away. Multiple American citizens, and citizens of many of our allied nations are currently being held hostage in Evin, alongside Iranian activists, intellectuals, journalists, artists, scientists and so many others.
— Jason Rezaian (@jrezaian) October 15, 2022
