After the deaths in last weekend’s blaze in Evin Prison in Tehran, resistance has been spreading in Tabriz, Sanandaj (Sine), and Ghezel Hesar prisons in Iran, reported Mezopotamya News Agency.
At least eight prisoners died in the fire that broke out on Saturday night in Evin Prison, a facility in the capital city of Tehran that is known for its population of political prisoners.
Iranian state television IRNA first announced on live broadcast that 61 people died during the “fire in the prison”, but it later corrected the figure to four. However, the judiciary made an additional statement on Monday saying the death toll had risen to eight.
Now, resistance is reportedly spreading to prisons in Tabriz, Sanandaj and Karaj as the protests in Iran enter their second month.
Clashes broke out in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj after inmates rose against the prison wardens chanting “death to (Iranian Supreme Leader Ali) Khamanei”, the National Council of Resistance of Iran reported.
Prison authorities in Sanandaj (Sine) Central Prison in Kurdistan province of northwestern Iran, have taken strict security measures inside the prison following a heavy crackdown on protesting prisoners on 1 October, Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported.
Kurds make up half of political prisoners held in Iran and a disproportionately high number of those executed, according to a 2019 United Nations report cited by the Washington Post.
Responding to the Evin Prison blaze, Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, called for the authorities to undertake their legal obligation to respect and protect the lives and wellbeing of all prisoners.
The notorious #Evinprison in Iran is reported to be on fire with gunshots heard. This must be terrifying. Lets recall that the authorities have the legal obligation to respect and protect the lives and well being of all the prisoners. https://t.co/Xu5y2JD4yF
— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) October 15, 2022
Reuters reported that several European Union foreign ministers had called for sanctions against Iran over the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia, as the bloc agreed a separate set of asset freezes and travel bans over Tehran’s crackdown on protests.
Condemning the latest European Union sanctions against Iranian citizens and entities, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that Islamic Republic would soon reciprocate and impose sanctions against relevant European individuals and entities, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile, protests have continued on Iranian streets and at public events, and the Iranian authorities have scrambled to silence dissenting voices.
Elnaz Rakibi, the female Iranian rock climber who defied Iran’s theocratic government by competing without a hijab at an international competition in South Korea on Sunday, will be transferred to Evin prison from the airport, IranWire reported.
