Several Dead After Infamous Iranian Prison Holding Anti-Regime Protesters Catches Fire

One of Iran’s most notorious prison facilities erupted in flames over this past weekend, leading to several deaths and dozens of injuries.

For decades, Tehran’s Evin prison has been one of the primary locations for political prisoners and anti-regime activists in Iran. Video footage shared across social media this weekend shows a building engulfed in flames producing a trail of smoke. Some of the clips also capture what sounds like gunfire ringing out at the prison. As of today, 8 people have reportedly died as a result of the blaze.

The cause of the mysterious fire has still not been determined, with officials so far pinning it on “rioters,” “the enemy’s agents,” and a fight between prisoners, per the AP. According to The New York Times, other theories about the fire’s origin making the rounds online include an explosive device, an attempted prison escape, and a prison infiltration.

The timing of the fire is raising deep suspicions among activists. Evin Prison has recently been housing protesters who took to the streets to speak out against the government following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody of Iran’s morality police last month.

Human rights groups have long alleged that the prison itself has a history of abuse and torture.

On the same day that the fire at Evin ignited, President Biden was overly outspoken in his praise of the protesters while speaking to the media in Oregon. “The Iranian government is so oppressive, you can’t have anything but an enormous amount of respect for those people marching in the streets,” Biden said. “It’s really been amazing.” A day earlier, while addressing a crowd at California’s Irvine Valley College, the president remarked, “I want you to know that we stand with the citizens, the brave women of Iran.”