Hijab row: Blazing fire and jarring noise of gunshots came out of the notorious Iranian central prison yesterday, where political prisoners and anti-government activists are kept. Local media reported heavy gunshots inside the prison with 8 confirmed deaths, as nationwide protests continue for the fifth consecutive week.
State-run news agency IRNA reported that the clashes were between prisoners of one ward and prison security personnel. A senior security official from the infamous prison stated that prisoners set fire to a ware-house full of prison uniforms, the reason for the blaze. The rioters were separated from the other prisoners to de-escalate the violence.
Ali Salehi claims unrest inside prison not connected to Hijab-row
Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi, who is leading the actions initiated by enforcement agencies against the nationwide stir, said that peace has returned inside the prison and that the unrest is not related to the anti-Hijab row.
The U.S.-based Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that an “armed conflict” broke out within the prison walls. It said shots were first heard in Ward 7 of the prison. This account could not be immediately verified.
Supreme Commander Ayatollah Ali Khamanei is the main target
Videos showed shots ringing out as plumes of smoke rose into the sky amid the sound of an alarm. A protest broke out on the street soon after, with many chanting “Death to the Dictator!” — a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — and burning tires, circulating videos showed.
“Down with the Dictator” demonstrators also chanted on the streets of Ardabil in the country’s northwest and hundreds of students rallied outside the Universities in Kermanshah, Rasht and Tehran, such viral videos are in circulation on social media. Sanandaj, a city in the northern Kurdish region is a hotspot of demonstrations by school girls who were seen chanting, “Woman, life, freedom,” down a central street.
The protests that erupted after public outrage over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody does not appear to die soon as the authorities may have envisaged. And with the support from liberal leaders like Ali Larijani, adding fuel to the fire, we may witness a long-drawn battle in Iran. By that time, we will have to witness many more unfortunate casualties.
~ God Bless the innocents ~
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