On the anniversary of Mahsa's death, Iranian news agencies reported on Saturday, September 16, the occurrence of a fire in the women's prison located in Qarchak Varamin. Several human rights sources and civil activists have suggested that the widespread fire was caused by a potential prison riot in commemoration of Mahsa (Zhina) and reported that the fire spread to Ward 5 of the prison, prompting the special guard and security forces to enter the prison. Atena Daemi, a civil activist and former prisoner, reported this on her X (formerly Twitter) account. HRA News, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, also noted the concerns of the families of prisoners held in Qarchak Varamin, stating that prison guards prevented prisoners from leaving their wards. The state news agency IRNA attributed the fire to protests by death row inmates against prison management through 'setting fire to beds and clothes.' The Judiciary's media center claimed that the fire was 'very minor' and was extinguished in 'less than 10 minutes' without any casualties or financial damage. Several journalists, civil activists, labor activists, and Baha'i citizens, including Nazila Maroufian, Vida Rabani, Atena Farghadani, Fatemeh Tadrisi, Mahvash Shahriari, and Fariba Kamalabadi, have been imprisoned in Qarchak Varamin for some time. During last year's nationwide protests, part of Evin Prison also caught fire, resulting in at least 8 deaths and several injuries. At that time, Islamic Republic officials announced that the fire and unrest in Evin Prison had ended before midnight; however, residents around the prison reported hearing gunfire until after midnight. The presence of repressive forces and a security atmosphere in Aichi Cemetery in Saqez – September 16 Special program: Evin Prison; a killing field Fire and mine explosions around Evin; families of prisoners: 'There is a fire in our hearts' Issuance of a 'non-prosecution' order for six political prisoners related to the Evin fire case.
Anniversary of Mahsa; Fire Breaks Out in Women's Prison in Qarchak Varamin
On the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, a fire broke out in Qarchak Varamin women's prison, possibly linked to a prison riot. Human rights activists and families of prisoners expressed concern over the situation, while officials downplayed the incident. This event highlights ongoing tensions and unrest within Iranian prisons.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Fire breaks out in Qarchak Varamin women's prison amid protests commemorating Mahsa's death.
- death row inmates protest prison management
- special guard and security forces enter Qarchak Varamin women's prison
- prison guards prevent prisoners in Qarchak Varamin
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The incident underscores the volatile situation in Iranian prisons amid ongoing protests.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%