Consequences of the 2022 Fire Incident at Evin Prison; Judiciary to Prosecute 40 Prisoners

The Iran Human Rights Center announced that forty prisoners held in Evin Prison will be tried on charges of "riot in Evin Prison" during the nationwide protests in 2022, on June 19 and 20, 2024. According to the center, the charges against them include "disruption of order and riot in Evin Prison, rebellion and destruction, disobedience to the prison guard's orders with the intent to escape, and other charges," and they are set to be tried in Branch 1148 of the Tehran Criminal Court. This human rights organization stated that some of the defendants in this case have even been charged with murder. In late November 2023, after more than a year, Ali Salehi, the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor, announced the issuance of summons and indictment for 40 individuals in this case, without providing further details about the identities of the defendants. The Iran Human Rights Center reported that several political prisoners, including Laghman Aminpour, Meysam Dehban-zadeh, Majid Roshannejad, and Reza Salmanzadeh, are included in this "case-making" and are required to appear in court on June 19 and 20. Laghman Aminpour, Meysam Dehban-zadeh, and Reza Salmanzadeh are currently imprisoned in Qazalhasar Prison. On the evening of October 15, 2022, during the nationwide protests in Iran, reports of a fire in Evin Prison in northern Tehran were transmitted. Following this fire, loud explosions were also heard in the area. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, but accounts indicate that the fire initially started in Ward 7 of Evin Prison and quickly spread, prompting political prisoners in Ward 8 to attempt to assist those in Ward 7. According to reports released after the fire incident, more than 100 prisoners were severely injured due to the firing of pellet shots and beatings by the guards, and several prisoners were killed as a result of the gunfire. The father of Mehdi Salmanzadeh has been in solitary confinement for 61 days following the Evin fire. The voice of Yashar Tavakoli, a student injured in the Evin fire: 'I see death before my eyes.' Details of the Evin fire were discussed in an interview with Siamak Dehghanpour with a prisoner from within the prison. A summons was issued for 40 individuals in connection with the Evin fire case. Fire and mine explosions around Evin; families of prisoners: 'There is fire in our hearts.' A 'non-prosecution' order was issued for six political prisoners related to the Evin fire case.