The death toll after the fire at the infamous Evin prison in Tehran has risen to eight on Monday. Dozens of other detainees were injured. Observers fear an even greater number of casualties. Among the prisoners are also two Austrians. They survived the fire “unharmed”, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But their families continue to tremble for the lives of the two double citizens.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed APA that it has been in constant contact with the Iranian authorities, local European partners and the families of the two Austro-Iranian dual citizens in Austria since Saturday evening. “We are relieved that Mr. Massud Mossaheb and Mr. Kamran Ghaderi have survived the fire at Evin Prison unharmed so far,” the message read. The Iranian leadership bears full responsibility for the inmates in Evin prison. It was emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to make every effort to secure the release of the two Austrians on humanitarian grounds.
Great concern for the health of Massoud Mossaheb
Mossaheb’s relatives reported on Twitter on Sunday that the 76-year-old was suffering from the effects of using tear gas and inhaling smoke. The secretary-general of the Austrian-Iranian Association, who has been imprisoned for more than three years, has long struggled with health problems. He was given temporary leave for medical reasons at the end of August, but is now back in Evin. Since 2016, the Viennese IT expert Ghaderi has also been based there.
According to eyewitnesses and media from Tehran, several explosions were heard in the detention center on Saturday. A fire also broke out after a conflict. According to the official Iranian account, it is an internal conflict in the prison. This information cannot be independently verified. Videos shared thousands of times on social media showed chaotic images around the prison. Many relatives of the detainees rushed to the scene of the incident out of concern for the next of kin.
Evin Prison is internationally known for the political prisoners held there and human rights organizations’ criticism of torture and ill-treatment. Protesters are also being held there for their participation in the systemic protests of the past four weeks.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
