Reuters: Riot police were present in Evin prison two days before the fire
In an exclusive report, Reuters states that two days before the fire in Evin, a riot police unit entered the prison compound, began patrolling the corridors, and created tension by shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and banging batons on cell doors. Reuters, which spoke with 8 prisoners, relatives of prisoners, and a human rights activist for this report, added that the patrols began without any apparent provocation from the prisoners. These patrols continued from Thursday to Saturday and eventually led to prisoners chanting harsh slogans against the Islamic Republic and Ali Khamenei. A prisoner from Ward 8, which mostly houses those convicted of financial crimes, told Reuters, ‘We suddenly heard gunfire and then the chant ‘Death to Khamenei’ from prisoners in other wards.’