Inside Tehran's Notorious Evin Prison After Blaze

A photo released on October 16  by the Iranian Mizan News Agency shows a corridor inside Tehran's Evin prison after deadly violence at the facility. 

On October 15, several videos emerged showing flames billowing above the prison, in the northwest of Tehran. Apparent gunfire and explosions can be heard in some of the amateur footage. 

The blaze came amid deadly unrest across Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Amini, 22, died after being detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly not wearing her Islamic head scarf, or hijab, properly.   

A fire-damaged room inside Evin prison seen on October 16.

At least eight people reportedly died during violence at the facility. It is unclear if the prison blaze is linked to the unrest sparked by the death of Amini. 

Fire damage to the exterior of the prison. 

An RFE/RL reporter was told that a riot began in a ward of the prison where political prisoners are held. Hundreds of people arrested for taking part in the anti-government protests sweeping the country had been sent to the prison before the blaze broke out.

Damage on a stairwell, apparently near the outer wall of Evin prison. The facility is notorious for well-documented abuses, and on-site executions. 

Bunk beds and a poster of Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi seen inside Evin prison on October 16.

This photo and most others in this gallery were released by the Mizan News Agency, which is aligned with Iran's hard-line judiciary. 

A 2009 file photo of the entrance to Evin prison.

Images from inside the prison are rare, and photography is banned in the area around the site. In 2003 photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was arrested for taking pictures in front of the prison. The Iranian-Canadian later died in custody. 

Fire damage seen inside Evin prison on October 16.

Tehran Governor Mohsen Mansuri claimed the blaze was caused by "a fight between some prisoners" in a sewing workshop. That claim was widely disputed on Iranian social media but amid restrictions on Internet and communications, much about the deadly violence remains unclear. 

A fire truck photographed outside an entrance to Evin prison on October 16.