Explosions at Evin prison, families infuriated

GVF -- Families of political prisoners held at Evin prison have written a letter to Tehran’s Chief Prosecutor Jafari Dolatabadi, urging him to order a probe into the sounds of explosions heard from Evin prison on Sunday 4 July. The sounds of explosions were followed by great flames around ward 350 of the prison, which were witnessed by prisoners at the ward as well as other wards in the prison.

The families of the Evin prisoners have demanded that the prosecutor appoint a committee to investigate the incident and to announce the results of the enquiry as soon as possible.

In their letter to the prosecutor, the relatives state that the explosions at Evin prison on Sunday 4 July were so loud that they were “even heard by residents of the houses close to Evin prison” and that the after-effects of the explosions are still clearly visible.

“The very next day and while visiting their loved-ones [in prison], most of the families of the prisoners became aware of the shock in their faces due the terrifying sounds of explosions [the previous day] and were informed about the news and the details of the incident thought the prisoners. Until now, we have tried to investigate the reasons behind the blasts and the fire in Evin prison in total silence and without media coverage, but as we have not received any response, we have no choice but to publish this letter".

The letter states that within the past week, “officials from the prison and the judiciary system have not provided any explanations for the reasons behind the blasts and its scale”. The families expressed their grave concern about the mistreatment of their loved-ones in Evin prison who, in addition, suffer from other types of abuse and lack of facilities at the notorious prison too.

They call upon the Chief Prosecutor, Dolatabadi, to “appoint a committee to investigate the reasons behind the recent blasts at Evin prison as soon as possible” and for the prosecutor himself to “monitor the committee’s performance closely.”

In addition, the relatives say they will hold the prosecutor and the head of judiciary Sadegh Larijani himself responsible for securing the well-being of the prisoners and issue a warning about the repeat of such incidents and other forms of abuse in the future.